Title,Contract Number,Agency,Branch,Program,Year,Phase,Award Amount,SBC,Street,Street 2,City,State,ZIP,Woman-Owned?,Minority-Owned?,HUBZone-Owned?,Contact Name,Contact Title,Contact Phone,Contact Email,Principal Investigator,PI Title,PI Phone,PI Email,Abstract
InFusion: Performance improvements of traffic controllers by means of data fusion and analysis,DTRT57-11-C-10030,DOT,DOT,SBIR,2011,1,99860.52,"SAVARI, INC.",2005 DE LA CRUZ BLVD STE 128,,SANTA CLARA,CA,95050-3030,No,Yes,No,Ravi Puvvala,,,ravi@savarinetworks.com,Ravi Puvvala,,,ravi@savarinetworks.com,Traffic signal controlled intersections currently receive data from various sensors including inductive loops cameras microwave and infrared technologies. These technologies measure presence and passage of vehicles at fixed locations on the intersection approaches. The emergence of IntelliDriveSM will empower intersection control algorithms with rich information from DSRC equipped vehicles. In this new environment we will receive traditional loop data SPAT messages from road side equipment and “here-i-am” basic safety messages from aftermarket or OEM vehicles. These new sources of information necessitate the development of a common framework to integrate data into messages that are meaningful to intersection control equipment and adaptive signal systems. Through recent research in Arizona the E-IntelliDriveSM program has demonstrated the capability of a DSRC enabled roadside unit to interact with equipped emergency vehicles to receive signal priority requests and provide intelligent signal control decisions. This proposal will focus on amalgamation of all the SAE J2735 DSRC messages into a well-defined interface with actuated signal controller logic. We focus on improving signal transition logic improvements as per NCHRP 3-66 and improve arterial performance measures using NCHRP 3-79 findings as well as integrating with the existing E-IntelliDriveSM success into a product that enhances mobility safety and the environment.
SmartCross - Traffic signal interface on the smartphone,DTRT57-11-C-10034,DOT,DOT,SBIR,2011,1,99125.44,"SAVARI, INC.",2005 DE LA CRUZ BLVD STE 128,,SANTA CLARA,CA,95050-3030,No,Yes,No,Ramesh Siripurapu,System Architect,(408) 833-6369,ramesh@savarinetworks.com,Ravi Puvvala,CEO,(408) 859-7284,ravi@savarinetworks.com,In 2008 there were 69000 and 52000 injuries reported for pedestrians and bicyclists respectively.A majority of these injuries were a result of impulsive decisions by road users. This proposal aims to make use of proliferation of smartphones and provide a technical solution to mitigate the risks associated with these two types of road users. The SmartCross application will enable pedestrians and bicyclists to make informed decisions for crossing a signalized intersection thereby reducing the risks. The application would provide the smartphone user with the traffic light status for the intersections as well as alerting them of potential crash risks. The use cases and requirements will be defined by studying the different scenarios between the pedestrian the traffic light and nearby DSRC equipped devices. We will demonstrate in both laboratory and real world settings how a smartphone would connect to roadside infrastructure using available short-range wireless technologies like WiFi and Bluetooth. SmartCross will provide user feedback via audio visual and haptic mechanisms. The feature set can be further extended to implement features like two-way communication with the traffic light controller to request pedestrian phase extension and to provide alerts to DSRC equipped vehicles about potential pedestrian/bicyclist hazards.
Development of a diagnostic instrument to manage hemostasis in chronic liver dise,4R44DK085844-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1512209.00,"HemoSonics, LLC",400 Preston Avenue,Suite 250,Charlottesville,VA,22903-,No,No,No,Francesco Viola,,434-409-6281,fviola@hemosonics.com,Francesco Viola,,434-409-6281,FVIOLA@HEMOSONICS.COM,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The clinical evaluation and management of hemostasis in the 5 million patients affected by chronic liver diseases (CLD) is poorly understood. Data presented at two International Symposia on Coagulation in Liver Diseaseand summarized in a recent edition of Clinics in Liver Disease strongly support the presence of an unmet clinical need for investigation in this field. Improved investigation of hemostasis is needed to assess bleeding risks and guide clinical decisions. Few examples are listed in the table below, showing how clinical practice could be improved for CLD patients. Clinical decision for invasive interventions such as liver biopsy Improved assessment of hemostasis =gt Don't perform procedure if hemostatic profile reveals high risk of bleeding Usage of blood products for prophylaxis or therapy purposes Improved assessment of hemostasis =gt Guide the selection and transfusion of blood products: (i) Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and/or cryoprecipitate to replenish blood coagulation proteins. (ii) Platelet concentrates to replenish platelets level. (iii) Anti-fibrinolytics to slow down clot dissolution. Perioperative management of blood product transfusions such as in the case of liver transplant Improved assessment ofhemostasis =gt Guide transfusion of blood products as above Clinical decisions in the emergency room and intensive care unit Improved assessment of hemostasis =gt Guide transfusion of blood products as above The management of blood products is particularlyimportant for in CLD patients at risk or experiencing bleeding episodes. However, the use of blood products should be carefully optimized in order to save scarce resources, minimize the risks of allergic reactions, viral and bacterial infections, and reduce health-care spending. A recent report indicated that improved management of hemostasis in liver transplant alone could save over 370K/year (assuming an hospital performing 42 transplants/year) while reducing complications related to over transfusion ofblood products by 2.6X. Unfortunately, there is no viable comprehensive test of hemostasis able to provide accurate management of CLD patients. While several studies have shown that current tests are unable to effectively quantify the hemostatic functionsin CLD and do not correlate with bleeding outcomes, clinical decisions are being made daily using these unfounded criteria, leading to erroneous and potentially hazardous treatments. The need for alternatives has been apparent since seminal studies showing the fallacy of current tests in CLD. HemoSonics' Proposed Solution: HemoSonics LLC is developing an instrument, the HemoSonics' Global Hemostasis Analyzer or HS-GHA that can quantify hemostasis function to guide appropriate and evidence based interventions. The HS-GHA is based on sonorheometry (SR), a novel ultrasound-based technology able to assess not only time to clot (dependent upon the plasma coagulation factors) but also clot formation rate (also dependent upon coagulation factors), clot stiffness (dependent upon fibrin assembly and platelet function), and time to lysis (dependent upon fibrinolytic proteins). If proven successful, the HS-GHA will help: (i) physicians provide the correct treatment, (ii) the hospital save costs by reducing unnecessarytransfusions, (iii) the blood bank save blood products, and, most importantly, (iv) improve patient's care. Proposed SBIR Work: In Phase I we intend to complete demonstration of the feasibility of SR as a diagnostic tool to quantify abnormalities of hemostasis that are common in CLD. In this Phase II we intend to demonstrate the clinical value and thus the commercial potential of our technology. We will design and assemble a stand- alone clinical prototype with disposable cartridges, and perform a small clinical study on cirrhotic patients. A positive conclusion from this study will demonstrate the ability of sonorheometry to recognize specific hemostatic defects that lead to excessive bleeding and the need to transfuse blood products. This research is a collaborative effort between HemoSonics, LLC and the University of Virginia Department of Biomedical Engineering and School of Medicine. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The clinical evaluation and management of hemostasis in the 5 million patients affected bychronic liver diseases (CLD) is poorly understood. While improved management of hemostasis can resolve in improved patients care and substantial cost savings, this task currently remains suboptimal due to the many limitations of available diagnostic tests. The goal of this SBIR proposal is to develop and test the clinical efficacy of a novel diagnostic instrument that will improve the current management of hemostasis in CLD patients, thus improving patients' outcomes and generating significant cost savings."
Innovative Hardware Technologies for Electromagnetic Attack Rejection in Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Radars,HQ0147-11-C-7662,DOD,MDA,STTR,2011,1,99709.00,"Ness Engineering, Inc.",P.O. Box 261501,,San Diego,CA,-,No,No,No,Richard M. Ness,President,(858) 566-2372,nessengr@san.rr.com,Richard M. Ness,President,(858) 566-2372,nessengr@san.rr.com,"Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons (RFDEW) are maturing sufficiently to become a threat to sensitive circuits onboard military platforms. With a large number of active elements, Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) phased array radar units are particularly susceptible and require improvement over the current state-of-the-art in limiter technology. This is particularly needed in the development of faster limiters that can be PCB mounted to adapt into the existing solid state receivers and operate in a passive mode if at all possible. Ness Engineering, Inc. and the University of Missouri, Columbia are proposing a new board-level microwave limiter to protect radar receivers from High Power Microwave (HPM) attacks. The limiter is designed to be incorporated into a micro-strip transmission line and short the line within 5 nanoseconds of detecting a RFDEW attack. The Phase I proposed effort will involve development of a brassboard limiter, preliminary optimization of the limiter system design, and characterization of its operation in response to HPM and high power RF signal application. We will also validate the insertion loss of the device with respect to normal signal levels and operations."
Mitigation of USV Motions via Wave Sensing and Prediction,N00014-11-C-0475,DOD,DOD,STTR,2011,2,494233.00,Vector Controls Inc.,3 Bridge St,Suite B100,Newton,MA,-,No,No,No,Robert Morvillo,President,(617) 527-8600,rmorvillo@vcinc.com,Robert Morvillo,President,(617) 527-8600,rmorvillo@vcinc.com,"A boat""s coxswain is adept at analyzing the wave environment, adjusting the craft""s propulsion system and control surfaces to mitigate its motions and reduce the chance of capsizing. There is a significant predictive component in the coxswain""s control decisions. Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) lack the benefit of a highly trained coxswain reading and predicting oncoming waves - existing autonomous control systems are not aware of the wavefield, nor are they capable of combining near and far wave field information with current information about the craft in order to make adjustments to the propulsion system and control surfaces. This makes the USV susceptible to excessive shocks and motions, which may degrade mission performance, or capsizing. The proposed effort will develop a motion mitigation system including wave sensing and characterization, USV motion prediction, and vessel control for USVs. The system builds upon successful past and current research and development in using wave sensing data, advanced hydrodynamics for wave field reconstruction and vessel dynamics, and vessel control systems in improving steering and motion control of USVs in high sea states."
Cognitive Multi-Sensor Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detection Technologies (COMIDT),FA8650-11-M-1135,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99971.00,"Lattice Government Services, Inc.",2411 Dulles Corner Park Suite 220,,Herndon,VA,20171-1645,No,No,No,Matthew Strickler,Senior Contracts Manager,(703) 547-1478,mstrickler@latticeincorporated.com,Dan Reuben,Senior Scientist,(301) 580-9217,dreuben@latticeincorporated.com,"Up to 40% of all U.S. and coalition deaths in both Iraq and Afghanistan have been due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In addition, the Department of Homeland Security reports that more than 600 IED incidents occur worldwide each month outside of these regions, including within the U.S. While IED detection technologies continue to improve, insurgents and others who place IEDs are highly adaptive, using homemade explosives, non-metallic shrapnel and housings, and remote controlled detonators. As a result, current detectors, which generally focus on a specific aspect of the IED anatomy, are subject to very high rate of false positives. This greatly slows mission completion, wastes resources, and further endangers the warfighter. To resolve this problem, an extensible and distributed system is needed, capable of fusing multiple sensors based on geolocation to distinguish probable IEDs from false alarms. Ricciardi Technologies and the University of Washington will define this system, select explosive, radar, and radio frequency detection sensors, and define a common sensor interface, data normalization middleware, and reference databases. The team will also define the distributed architecture, cognitive engines to determine the probability of an IED, develop an integration plan, and build a simulation/proof of concept of the technology. BENEFIT: HSRC estimates $29.4 billion has been spent to date on counter IED technologies worldwide, and that $23.2 billion in additional products and services will be spent by 2012. $5.6 billion is currently focused on detection technologies. This addresses the growing IED threat, which Defense IQ estimates will rise 30% in the coming year. By leveraging an extensible and distributed interface for disparate sensors, each detecting different components of an IED, and interpreting the relative probability with each added signal, false positives will be significantly reduced, allowing more fluid movement of troops and resources to disable the real threats. The system will not only be able to utilize standard DoD explosive and radio frequency detectors as well as ground penetrating radar, but also third party sensors. In some cases, this may even include sensors the insurgents themselves have placed. The ability to use different and changing sensor networks will also make it more difficult for insurgents to adapt new strategies in response to these detectors. Once matured, this interface and architecture will also have applications in consumer, medical, safety, agricultural, and environmental sensor fusion areas; particularly the navigation and artificial vision fields of the $21 billion robotics market."
Photonic Multi-Beam Receive-Only Arrays,HQ0147-11-C-7532,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"DGNSS Solutions, LLC",1275 Kinnear Road,,Columnus,OH,43065-8874,No,No,No,George Dedes,Chief Scientist/President,(614) 937-1993,gdedes@dgnsssolutions.com,George Dedes,Chief Scientist/President,(614) 937-1993,gdedes@dgnsssolutions.com,"We propose to define a dynamically reconfigurable photonics-based system to efficiently collect, down-convert, distribute, and selectively combine the return signals from multiple array elements to a set of digital processors. Electronic signals from the array elements will modulate optical carrier signals. With an appropriate choice of optical carrier signal and photonic architecture, the signals due to one target can be coherently combined while all other signals and noise combine incoherently. Using Compressive sensing one can recover precise position and tracking information of multiple targets from a massive array (40,000-400,000 equivalent elements) that permit the critical target information to be recovered from the processing of a relatively small number of signals"
Scalable Dynamic Matrix Completion for Information Processing and Link Discovery,N00014-10-M-0480,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99863.00,InfoBeyond Technology LLC,Suite 220,10400 Linn Station Rd.,Louisville,KY,-,No,No,No,Bin Xie,President,(502) 742-9770,Bin.Xie@InfoBeyonds.com,Bin Xie,President,(502) 742-9770,Bin.Xie@InfoBeyonds.com,"Recent study by Candes et al. proves that that matrix completion is able to recover the missing entries from a surprising small fraction of random known entries if the matrix admits certain properties. The theoretical advance of the matrix recovery fosters a number of applications such as collaborative filtering, machine learning, and high-dimensional data process. In this project, explore Near-Optimal Matrix Completion (NOMC) for information processing and link discovery in the intelligent communication networks and sensor networks. NOMC advocates matrix completions for Intelligent Link Discovery (ILD) and High-dimensional Object Localization and Tracking (HOLT). Matrix completion for ILD is to predict the subcarrier performance quality from a few observed subcarriers, resulting in high quality link for CR/SDR communications. Due to only sparse subcarrier monitor is required for subcarrier quality prediction, ILD greatly reduces the network communication overhead while other approaches require intensive and continuous subcarrier monitor and data fusion. On the other hand, the matrix completion for HOLT can localize a large number of moving objects and sensors by using a small fraction of sensor location information. This essentially reduces the communication overhead for locating the objects while increasing information values for national security."
"STOC: Secure, Tactical On-Demand Cloud",FA8750-11-C-0165,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,1,99988.00,Harmonia Holdings Group,"2020 Kraft Drive, Suite 1000",,Blacksburg,VA,24060-6491,Yes,Yes,Yes,Pallabi Saboo,CEO,(540) 951-5915,psaboo@harmonia.com,Marc Abrams,PI,(540) 951-5901,mabrams@harmonia.com,"ABSTRACT: We present a novel architecture for on-demand clouds, which means creating a cloud computing environment when needed that opportunistically takes advantage of available processors. The processors are located on mobile computers at the tactical edge of a network and connect via wireless networks. Clusters of processors can be interconnected by trunks. Compute nodes may appear or disappear unpredictably (e.g., nodes may be on disposable handhelds or moving Unmanned Aerial Systems, or may be damaged in a combat environment). Thus we examine survivable fault tolerant parallel computing frameworks, such as MapReduce, which can adapt resources on the fly when processors fail. We focus on exploiting Graphical Processing Units (GPUs), which offer a greater density of processing cores compared to CPUs given the same physical space limits, and are well suited to many numerical calculations (e.g., data fusion) involved with sensor data. We examine how to implement MapReduce for GPUs in a new way that takes advantage of emerging capabilities in GPU instruction sets to avoid multi-pass requirements of past work in this area. We devise algorithms that can seamlessly combine GPUs and CPUs by using the OpenCL language for coding. Our target problem is distributed 3D scene reconstruction on demand. BENEFIT: This work adapts clouds to a tactical edge environment, where commercial clouds (e.g., from Amazon, Google) are not designed to work. One benefit is to enable on-demand cloud computing with virtualization that offers secure processing on an untrusted infrastructure. This includes security controls providing confidentiality and integrity, verified through cryptographic proofs in accordance with NIST 800-53. Through the use of GPU chips, another benefit is enabling real-time response to decentralized tactical users by exploiting more massive parallelism for a given size, weight, and power limit than conventional Central Processing Units (CPUs) can achieve. GPU chips are approaching a thousand or more stream cores (e.g., 6 GFLOPS [giga floating point operations per second] per watt for one chip). We also allow cloud computing with seamless distribution of computation over heterogeneous GPU/CPU nodes, which is ideal for a tactical setting that may combine various types of hardware devices with and without GPUs. We also simplify the MapReduce framework for end users to allow users with lower expertise and programming skills to configure computations; this allows faster deployment of new capabilities on our cloud architecture."
BIOMEDICAL (BASIC),N44CO110125,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,292222.00,Harmonia Holdings Group,"2020 Kraft Drive, Suite 1000",,Blacksburg,VA,24060-6491,Yes,Yes,Yes,Marc Abrams,,540-951-5900,MABRAMS@HARMONIA.COM,Marc Abrams,,540-951-5900,MABRAMS@HARMONIA.COM,"The purpose of this Phase II effort is to research and develop an innovative approach to empower people who do not have the skills to write programming code or a scripting language, to create simple user interfaces (UIs) to calculation engines written in various programming languages. The requirement includes realizing the approach in a high level programming language and a software system. The system should greatly reduce the time and skills required for a developer to create a UI and connect it to one oremore calculation engines."
SPAA: Software Priority Assurance Assessment,FA8650-11-M-1116,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99974.00,Harmonia Holdings Group,"2020 Kraft Drive, Suite 1000",,Blacksburg,VA,24060-6491,Yes,Yes,Yes,Pallabi Saboo,CEO,(540) 951-5915,psaboo@harmonia.com,Marc Abrams,PI,(540) 951-5901,mabrams@harmonia.com,"Harmonia proposes to create""SPAA: Software Priority Assurance Assessment""which is designed to automate software assurance assessment. The final tool will allow for risk assessment of commercial software through a formal risk acceptance approval process enabling the software to be officially installed and integrated on various weapon system platforms. Our objective is to create a tool through which an individual called the Agent of the Certifying Authority can perform rapid risk assessment of non-Air Force funded software to (a) prioritize which software requires deeper inspection and (b) document evidence that the software should be approved for use in the certification and accreditation (C & A) process. The assessment should produce a report that ranks or prioritizes for each software code the risk of using it. The risk level can then be used to decide which codes to pursue through the certification and accreditation (C & A) process. The Agent of the Certifying Authority (ACA) will prepare the case for codes to be approved for use in the weapon program; the documentation prepared goes to the Certifying Authority (CA). Once certified, each time the code is installed in a new environment it must be accredited by the Designated Accrediting Authority (DAA). BENEFIT: The completed tool will provide a way to quickly and with limited resources do an initial assessment of the risk in using certain non-Air Force developed software codes for weapon systems. This reduces the work for C & A through prioritizing risk and generating the evidence in documentation required for the CA and DAA. We estimate that SPAA can save 54% to 72% of the time required for analysis and documentation by the ACA, based on automating 60% to 80% of the work with a labor reduction of 90% for the portion that is automatable. Manual use of multiple code analysis is difficult to reproduce in a C & A setting, because processes can be documented in spreadsheets that are detail laden and there are many compiler switches and variables in analysis tools where one small change produces a big change in the output."
HUMINT Fusion without Coding (HFWC): An Automated HUMINT to Multi-INT Analytic Tool and Scalable Architecture to Support Navy Intelligence Analysts,N66001-11-M-5106,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,69968.00,Harmonia Holdings Group,"2020 Kraft Drive, Suite 1000",,Blacksburg,VA,24060-6491,Yes,Yes,Yes,Pallabi Saboo,CEO,(540) 951-5915,psaboo@harmonia.com,Marc Abrams,PI,(540) 951-5901,mabrams@harmonia.com,"HUMINT includes text based message traffic, other text document sources composed by humans, particularly the free-form prose text of these messages/documents that can be processed to produce information of value, and other human-produced media types (e.g., video, pictures). Harmonia proposes a new tool, called HFWC V HUMINT Fusion without Coding V that allows analysts to design custom fusion workflows without coding or the need for a programmer to code algorithms to exploit collected, processed, and stored information. HFWC introduces a net-centric data store in a certain format that facilitates the transformation from human analysis to machine-processing, thus providing the essential link between HUMINT and fusion with Multi-INT. Harmonias solution also allows an analyst to define small reusable analysis apps, which we call iTel apps, for the intelligence community to rapidly disseminate and share new analysis methods to analysts, form a library of them, and automatically execute them to facilitate HUMINT_Multi-INT Fusion. A facility to create a corporate memory of analysis methods to additionally accelerate the work of all analysts will be included. The final solution will operate in a cross-domain environment to fuse unclassified data with classified data without compromising security."
"AIR Framework: Assess, Identify and Remediate the Usability of Graphical User Interfaces",W911QX-11-C-0095,DOD,ARMY,SBIR,2011,1,149935.00,Harmonia Holdings Group,"2020 Kraft Drive, Suite 1000",,Blacksburg,VA,24060-6491,Yes,Yes,Yes,Pallabi Saboo,CEO,(540) 951-5915,psaboo@harmonia.com,Marc Abrams,PI,(540) 951-5901,mabrams@harmonia.com,"We present the Assess, Identify, Remediate (AIR) framework to integrate disparate tools and manual non-computer based methods for usability assessment. AIR is integrated into Microsoft Office so that it leverages a familiar user interface, and minimizes the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for users. It is fully extensible, so that 3rd parties can add their own tools to AIR. AIR is designed to incorporate traditional usability assessment tools (e.g., GOMS tools, video recording tools, IMPRINT), graphical user interface design tools (e.g., LiquidApps, Visual Studio), and allow creation of data capture methods for non-computer based assessment methods. AIR focuses on using commonly available technologies to maximize its adoption."
Designing Large Data Handling Architectures,N00014-11-C-0523,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,1246335.00,Harmonia Holdings Group,"2020 Kraft Drive, Suite 1000",,Blacksburg,VA,24060-6491,Yes,Yes,Yes,Pallabi Saboo,CEO,(540) 951-5915,psaboo@harmonia.com,Marc Abrams,PI,(540) 951-5901,mabrams@harmonia.com,"Harmonia proposes to continue development from Phase I of a Large Data Handling Architecture (LDHA). Given sufficient amounts of commodity hardware, its goal is to scale up to ingest a terabyte or more of data per hour from each open source or sensor; store tens of thousands and more of terabyte files; and support operations on databases that use complex structures as table cells, sparse tables, and billions or more rows and a million or more columns. Our implementation uses the Ubuntu server Linux distribution, Hadoop core, HBase database and Chukwa data collector. We implement ingesters as Java Servlets to collect continuously and automatically pass for insertion into Hadoop a variety of open sources including, but not limited to structured and unstructured text, sensor data, images, and streaming video, experimenting with real continuous feeds available on the Internet. We develop end user programming tools that empower analysts to define analysis tasks for distributed execution even though they do not have a programming background in MapReduce. Our architecture is service oriented, high performance, extensible, and permits integration with the DoD Global Information Grid. We support disadvantaged users through services that allow downloading of data. We do extensive performance assessment of bottlenecks."
Using UIML to Automate Generation of Usability Prototypes and Tactical Software,N68335-11-C-0051,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,749965.00,Harmonia Holdings Group,"2020 Kraft Drive, Suite 1000",,Blacksburg,VA,24060-6491,Yes,Yes,Yes,Pallabi Saboo,CEO,(540) 951-5915,psaboo@harmonia.com,Marc Abrams,PI,(540) 951-5901,mabrams@harmonia.com,"Harmonia proposes a novel approach to automatically generating tactical human/computer interface (HCI) code and object design data from the user interface design developed through usability prototyping. This approach uses the User Interface Markup Language (UIML), an open specification language being standardized by OASIS, as a user interface design language that can be rendered to usability prototypes, tactical HCI code, and object model representations. The proposed approach centers on defining an enhanced, UIML-based user interface design process, and then defining tool support needs for this process. The intent is to span the gap between usability and object-oriented software engineering by supporting rapid prototyping of user interfaces for usability engineering, while providing the ability to generate object design data for the overall system""s object model and tactical HCI code for deployment. UIML and its associated tools form a bridge between the user interface designer and the application modeler, allowing early and frequent integration of the user interface design process and the application development life cycle. Bridging the gap between usability and software engineering is expected to save considerable effort by eliminating the manual work currently required to move from usability prototype to tactical HCI software."
"An Advanced Environmental SPM System with Beam Deflection AFM Capability Suitable for Catalysis Research at Variable Pressure and Variable Temperature, which has all Available SPM Imaging Modes",DE-FG02-11ER90142,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,RHK Technology Inc,1050 E Maple Rd,,Troy,MI,48083-,No,No,No,Zhouhang Wang,Mr.,248 577 5426,wang@rhk-tech.com,Zhouhang Wang,Mr.,248 577 5426,wang@rhk-tech.com,"As recognized by the National Nanotechnology Initiative and the Department of Energy, Scanning Probe Microscopes are vital to the advancement of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Although there has been a steady improvement in the capabilities of commercial Scanning Probe Microscopes, instruments optimized for energy research and capable of operating over wide temperature and pressure ranges do not yet exist. This lack of instrumentation holds back research in catalysis, battery and other forms of energy storage performed in real-world working conditions. To eliminate this instrument gap, RHK Technology proposes an Advanced Environmental Scanning Probe Microscope (eSPM) capable of operating over the full pressure range from atmospheric to High Vacuum (10-8 Torr) and from LN2 temperatures to 1000 K. With quick-change plug-and-play scanner modules, the system will be capable of all SPM measuring modes: Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Lateral Force Microscopy (LFM), Kelvin Force Microscopy (KFM), Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM), and Near Field Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM). The eSPM will utilize a highly compact, isolated Environmental Cell (eCell) to minimize reactive gas volume, facilitate quick changes in pressure, and protect sensitive components from harsh environments.Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: After a successful Phase II-III launch, eSPM will provide benefits in clean energy research, national security, and the overall economy. Its advantages will attract strong interest from the DOE, private sector/industry, and public and private research labs. eSPMs heretofore unavailable capabilities enable the study of catalytic reactions and hydrogen storage at the nano-scale and at high pressure and temperature, crucial advantages for breakthroughs by DOE Labs and private sector innovators seeking clean, diversified energy sources. The eSPM also provides new, advanced functionality to analyze the chemical composition, topography, structure, and properties of known and unknown compounds and bio-active substances, with potential strategic and national security value in safeguarding the nation. Furthermore, the novel streamlined design and operation of eSPM will accelerate cutting-edge research results in University, National, DOE, and private sector/industrial labs. For example, optimizing catalysis materials and selectivity at the nanostructural level can radically improve their performance across petro-chem-pharma industries, providing powerful, tangible competitive advantages for the USA economy."
Instrumentation for Nanoscale Spectroscopy,FA9550-11-C-0025,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,2,749988.00,RHK Technology Inc,1050 E Maple Rd,,Troy,MI,48083-,No,No,No,Michael Kloc,Chief Financial Officer,(248) 577-5426,kloc@rhk-tech.com,John Keem,Director of Engineering Developemen,(248) 577-5426,keem@rhk-tech.com,"ABSTRACT: This STTR proposal is the natural consequence of our collaboration that makes use of the established know-how under the MURI program, the established track record of RHK in commercialization of critical hardware, software and electronic controllers to implement scanning probe microscopy with nanometer scale resolution of structural, electrical and optical materials properties for more than 25 years to develop a commercial measurement platform for tip- enhanced optical spectroscopy. Once completed, the instrument will enable routine near-field tip-enhanced optical imaging with spatial resolutions in the range of 10-50nm[1] along with topographic and transport (scanning tunneling microscopy) determinations. Furthermore, it will allow vibrational spectroscopy (Raman scattering, infrared absorption) to be performed with the same nanometer scale resolution. BENEFIT: This project will benefit the Air Force by enabling simultaneous characterization of multiple materials and device properties on the nanoscale, thereby providing a solution to an unanswered materials characterization challenge of paramount importance to our national security by improving unique improvements in our capability to screen for and reverse engineer high energy density materials, radar absorbing materials, biologically active nano-systems, and nuclear nanomaterials."
Development HMTD-Containing Porous Materials as Non-Detonable Training Aids for Canines,D12PC00335,DHS,DHS,SBIR,2011,2,749999.11,XploSafe LLC,1414 South Sangre Road,,Stillwater,OK,74074,No,No,No,Shoaib Shaikh,,,shoaib@xplosafe.com,Evgueni Kadossov,,,Evgueni@xplosafe.com,"The current practice of training canines for explosives detection utilizing actual explosives requires qualified personnel that are trained to handle
explosive materials making the training both manpower-intensive and costly. The expense is further exacerbated by the need to handle and dispose of
the explosive material according to local, state, and federal explosives regulations. Finally, the nature of explosives creates a risk of injury to the canine
and its handler. This is especially problematic for the highly sensitive peroxide-based improvised explosives such as hexamethylene triperoxide diamine
(HMTD). These peroxides are unstable compounds that are sensitive to shock, friction, and heat. HMTD even reacts with most common metals in a
process that can lead to detonation. Clearly, working with these explosives in pure form is extremely risky. To solve this problem the proposed research
will utilize porous ceramic materials in which HMTD is housed in a fashion that will inhibit or prevent explosive hazards while ensuring the
maintenance of a normal vapor pressure of HMTD without any confounding extraneous volatile materials that could interfere with canine training."
Inverted 3J Tandem Thermophotovoltaic Modules,NNX11CE10P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99486.00,"Spire Semiconductor, LLC",25 Sagamore Park Road,,Hudson,NH,03051-4901,No,No,No,Edward D. Gagnon,General Manager,6036891226,egagnon@spiresemi.com,Steven J. Wojtczuk,Principal Investigator,6036891204,swojtczuk@spiresemi.com,"Spire Semiconductor proposes to make an InGaAs-based three-junction (3J) tandem thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cell to utilize more of the blackbody spectrum (from a GPHS) efficiently. Semi-insulating InP wafers will be used for monolithically integrated module (MIM)compatibility and to achieve low free-carrier absorption. In Phase 1, we will design, epitaxially grow, and process large area single junction test cells for each of the three bandgaps proposed (to evaluate material quality), as well as for a full tandem cell structure. In Phase 2, we would further refine the structure and incorporate the material into MIM modules."
Mathematical and Computational Framework for Matrix Completion with Nonuniform Sampling in Resource Constrained Environments,N00014-11-M-0478,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,69748.00,PhyLas,8637 East Dunbar Way,,Tucson,AZ,-,No,No,No,Harry Schmitt,President,(520) 306-7639,haschmitt11@gmail.com,Harry Schmitt,President,(520) 306-7639,haschmitt11@gmail.com,"Matrix completion (MC) concerns the problem of recovering a low rank matrix from a given small fraction of its entries. It is a recurring problem in collaborative filtering, dimensionality reduction, and multi-class learning and has a long history in mathematics. While the general problem of finding the lowest rank matrix satisfying a set of equality constraints is NP-hard, there are quite general settings where it is possible to perfectly recover all of the missing entries of a low-rank matrix by solving a convex optimization problem. One of our team (Recht) has shown how this convex programming heuristic can be used to reconstruct most n x n matrices of rank r from most collections of entries, provided that the number of entries exceeds C n r log2n for some small, positive numerical constant C. This work extended mathematical results from compressive sensing, in particular building upon its geometric ideas. We propose a nine month research program with three lines of investigation: (i) extend current MC approaches to incorporate nonuniform sampling matrices and resource constraints; (ii) implementation of on-line MC algorithms; and (iii) extend current MC approaches to incorporate regularization schemes beyond rank and sparsity."
Integrated High-Complexity Systems in Silicon Photonics,FA9550-11-C-0041,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,1,100000.00,Portage Bay Photonics,"214 Summit Avenue E, #402",c/o Michael Hochberg,Seattle,WA,-,No,No,No,Tom Baehr-Jones,CTO,(626) 487-7721,tbaehrjones@yahoo.com,MIchael Hochberg,Assistant Professor,(626) 429-4051,hochberg@washington.edu,"ABSTRACT: We propose to develop and validate (in phase I) detailed designs for highly scaled silicon photonic-electronic chips for applications relevant to the DOD in high-bandwidth data communication. This effort will be closely coordinated with the OPSIS (Optoelectronic Systems Integration in Silicon) project being led at the University of Washington, an effort to create an open foundry process for silicon photonic-electronic integrated circuits and to develop a comprehensive design kit for electronic-photonic integrated circuits (EPICs) in silicon. While that effort is aimed at developing design rules and device libraries in a bottom-up approach, the effort proposed here is a top-down approach, driven by system-level needs for high-speed data links both on-chip and chip-to-chip. We will work to take the models created and extracted based on the OPSIS chips, and use them to model systems where highly-scaled EPIC circuits will provide key advantages for military systems. In particular, we will make use of the recently released software and simulation tools developed in the Bergman Laboratory at Columbia (PhoenixSim - (http://lightwave.ee.columbia.edu/?s=research & p=phoenixsim)) in order to develop a comprehensive system modeling framework for the OPSIS EPIC chips, and we will use this framework to model two different types of systems, each of which we expect to benefit significantly from highly scaled optoelectronic integration. The two test systems we intend to investigate in phase I are: (1) A high-bandwidth data communication system aimed at short-reach (<100m) applications, in the 500Gbit-2Tbit/second range , for ultra-high bandwidth data communication in supercomputing and on airborne platforms, aimed at small-fiber count and WDM for high bandwidth density. And (2) an on-chip link at similar bandwidth, aiming for ultimate low energy per bit metrics and direct integration with electronics. In phase II, we will build and test the chips designed in phase I. BENEFIT: We anticipate that as the silicon optical systems for chip-scale and chip-to-chip datacom applications discussed within this proposal become practical, the technology may be licensed directly to defense contractors such as Boeing or BAE Systems or commercialized directly by Portage Bay Photonics. The founders have extremely strong relationships with BAE Systems, Boeing, Intel, Agilent, Tektronix, and several other possible customers, and will work closely with them to define products based on the technology we are developing that will be compelling for the commercial market. The commercial applications for the kind of high-bandwidth, multi-terabit links we are proposing are legion. To cite just a few examples, connecting GPU""s, CPU""s, storage and memory to a very fast, low-latency optical bus architecture could have a huge impact on the performance of personal computers. Intel""s Light Peak technology is already bringing optics into the market for PC to peripheral connections, but our proposed work will provide a path toward creating similar links with 10 to 100x the bandwidth."
Multi-Frame Blind Deconvolution Algorithms for Daylight and Strong Turbulence Imaging,FA9451-11-M-0027,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99994.00,"Pacific Defense Solutions, LLC",1300 N. Holopono St,Suite 116,Kihei,HI,-,No,No,No,Donald Forrester,COO,(808) 268-4478,don.forrester@pacificds.com,Bobby Hunt,Sr. Principal Scientist,(808) 268-0985,bobby.hunt@pacificds.com,"National intelligence requirements for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) are hindered by the lack of a reliable capability to image satellites during the daytime hours with optical sensors. Presently, most optical SSA observations are conducted during terminator conditions i.e., morning or evening twilight when the sun illuminates the satellite, but not the observatory. There are two fundamental issues that make daytime imaging more technically challenging than terminator imaging: atmospheric seeing is generally worse during the day than during terminator; and high levels of background radiation due to scattered sunlight significantly lower the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the measurements. This project proposes to build on previous MFBD algorithm experience and on current research being performed by PDS for daytime imaging systems in order to develop the mathematical basis for new MFBD approaches and constraints that are tailored to daylight imaging in the presence of strong turbulence. BENEFIT: Facility security and battlespace management rely heavily video surveillance systems. In daylight these systems are limited by the stron turbulance encountered over long path lengths. MFBD operating in such conditions can bring huge improvements to such applications. The market is estimated to be in billions of dollars. The development of the new MFBD methods proposed herein offers the potential to contribute to better ultrasound imaging and other applications in the medical imaging field."
Advanced Estimation and Data Fusion Strategies for Space Surveillance/Reconnaissance,FA9453-11-C-0154,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,688252.00,"Pacific Defense Solutions, LLC",1300 N. Holopono St,Suite 116,Kihei,HI,-,No,No,No,Donald L. Forrester,Chief Operating Officer,(808) 268-4478,don.forrester@pacificds.com,Daron Nishimoto,Program Manager,(808) 268-2273,daron.nishimoto@pacificds.com,"ABSTRACT: The accurate tracking of resident space objects (RSO)s depends on the rapid estimation of orbits using the knowledge gained from sparsely sampled observations of satellites under the influence of interacting gravitational, solar radiation pressure and atmospheric drag effects. While there are many established sequential estimators that can perform real-time orbit estimation and provide the associated covariance, the RSO tracking problem presents special difficulties. The current estimation technique tends to be applied with limited tracking data for a wide variety of orbit regimes when there is little or no information included in the estimation process on the RSO""s mass, shape, radiative properties, or attitude. In addition, it is likely that the uncertainty distribution for many RSOs is not Gaussian and cannot be represented accurately by a covariance matrix that has been developed with an assumed Gaussian probability density function. The AGSF algorithm developed under Phase I is designed to be scalable, relatively efficient for solutions of this type, and able to handle the nonlinear effects which are common in the estimation of RSO orbit states. In addition, information theoretic metrics in conjunction with AGSF were examined for data association purposes. The AGSF and corresponding observation association methods were evaluated using simulated data to determine their performance and feasibility. Combined with an innovative space surveillance network (SSN) simulator, these algorithms will be developed and tested for their applicability to improving the speed, accuracy and responsiveness of RSO tracking. BENEFIT: Currently, the SSN uses the NORAD SGP4 orbit models for predicting satellite positions that do not have the associated covariance estimates. PDS will provide a performance assessment of utilizing these innovative orbit estimation and RSO track association algorithms developed under this project by testing their accuracy and responsiveness of RSO tracking against realistic use cases generated with an innovative high fidelity space surveillance network (SSN) simulator. Once these algorithms are validated under""real world""simulations, PDS will test and validate these algorithms with actual SSN data. PDS intends to work closely with the Air Force in transferring technology for their critical objectives. The primary DoD end-customer for these algorithms is the JFCC-Space through the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC), which detects, tracks, and identifies all man-made objects in Earth orbit. Through current program experiences, PDS understands the acquisition process involved in transitioning algorithms from concept to validation, development, testing, (SMC SSA Technology Branch) and deliverance of an operational product to the warfighter (AF Space Command)."
Multi-Color Nanomembrane Imaging Sensor Arrays,FA9550-11-C-0037,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,1,100000.00,Semerane Inc.,202 E. Border Street,Suite 149,Arlington,TX,-,No,No,No,Fang Lin,CEO,(817) 301-4640,flin@semerane.com,Hongjun Yang,Senior Scientist,(817) 714-9368,hyang@semerane.com,"ABSTRACT: The simultaneous sensing of light of multiple wavelengths can enhance the survivability, sustainability, and versatility by enabling unmanned reconnaissance and intelligent surveillance for both DoD and homeland security. The objective of this STTR Phase I proposal is to investigate the feasibility of a new type of multi-color/band nanomembrane imaging sensor array system, based on vertically integrated crystalline semiconductor nanomembrane photodetectors and nanomembrane electronics. Such imaging system can have high resolution and high speed, with lightweight and long term reliability. The system can be integrated on both rigid and flexible substrate, for conformal and wearable imaging systems, with a much simplified material integration and assembly processes. In this program, Semerane Inc. will work closely with University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Texas at Arlington, on low-temperature nanomembrane integration technology and new device configurations, based on its earlier work in nanomembrane electronics, optoelectronics, and photonics. It is expected that the successful development of the conformal, lightweight, and multi-color imaging system through this STTR project will generate significant impact on the military and commercial imaging, sensing, and communication applications. BENEFIT: The mission of Semerane Inc. is to commercialize the semiconductor nanomembrane technology for the commercial realizations of high performance, low-cost photonic and electronic components and intelligent system integration. The successful development of a practical multi-color imager system can offer a wide range of applications in the areas of hyper-spectral imaging (combat identification and target recognition), gas sensing (chem-bio detection and spectrometer-on-a-chip), as well as information processing (WDM-on-a-chip), etc. The processes developed here would lead to an even broader area of applications, including high capacity, low cost data network, optical computing, flexible displays, solid-state lighting, energy harvest (multi-junction tandem photovoltaic cells), infrared night vision, image and gas sensing for medical, biological, environmental, military, and home land security applications."
Nanomembrane Integrated Lasers on Silicon,FA9550-11-C-0026,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,2,749991.00,Semerane Inc.,202 E. Border Street,Suite 149,Arlington,TX,-,No,No,No,Fang Lin,CEO,(817) 301-5398,flin@semerane.com,Hongjun Yang,Senior Scientist,(817) 714-9368,hyang@semerane.com,"ABSTRACT: The objective of this STTR Phase II proposal is to continue and complete the development of a commercially practical laser source on silicon (Si), with the demonstration of high performance ultra-compact electrically-pumped infrared laser prototype at 1550 nm band. Currently, silicon (Si)-based photonics are bottlenecked by the lack of an economical yet reliably integrated on-chip laser source. In this program, Semerane Inc. will work closely with University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Texas at Arlington to remove this most difficult bottleneck by developing the long demanded on-Si lasers, based on a low-temperature nanomembrane integration technology. The on-silicon infrared laser, namely membrane-reflector vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (MR-VCSEL), will exhibit high efficiency, ultra compactness (DBR-free), high reliability and wide spectral tunability. With the proposed laser structure to be directly built on Si, the highly desirable monolithic integration of the laser with Si CMOS will eventually be realized. The success of the proposed work will lead to the next-generation fully integrated electronics and photonics (EP) integrated circuits and will pave the way toward high-density 3D integrated EP systems. It is expected that the successful development of the on-Si laser through this STTR project will generate significant impact on the military and commercial communication and sensing applications. BENEFIT: The success of the development of economical yet reliable lasers on Si permits monolithic integration of sensing, spectroscopy, signal processing and computing all on a single chip. The single-chip photonics and electronics integration offers an affordable solution to the multi-functional platform with revolutionary influence in many areas of science, technology and everyday life. Such examples include high capacity low-cost data network, optical computing, flexible displays, solid state lighting, energy harvest, infrared night vision, image and gas sensing for medical, biological, environmental, military, and homeland security applications."
Internal Combustion (IC) Engine/Electric Hybrid Power/Propulsion System for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs),FA8650-11-M-2171,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99979.00,Northwest UAV Propulsion Systems,11160 SW Durham Lane,,McMinnville,OR,-,No,No,No,Joe Gibbs,VP Bus Developmemnt&PMP,(503) 539-9370,joe.gibbs@nwuav.com,Chris Pellegrino,ME New Product Development Manager,(503) 434-6845,Chris.Pellegrino@nwuav.com,"ABSTRACT: Northwest UAV Propulsion Systems Develops and Manufactures heavy fuel engines for UAVs and is proposing using a purpose built engine for a ScanEagle sized UAS combined with a novel Axial Flux Motor/Generator system and a electric clutch system currently availalbe as a COTS item. We have teamed with Oregon State University for control design & Insitu Inc. for acoustical & flight testing to develop a hybrid propulsion system that provides adequate mission performance with stealth capabilities. BENEFIT: Duration, decreased noise signature for ISR and Border Control Missions, hybrid vehicle design, small diesel generation units for plug-in electric vehicles, Aircraft Axilary Power Units."
High Efficiency Quantum Well Waveguide Solar Cells,NNX11CE59P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99999.00,Magnolia Solar Inc.,54 Cummings Park,Suite 316,Woburn,MA,-,No,No,No,Roger E. Welser,Business Official,7817677042,rwelser@magnoliasolar.com,Roger E. Welser,Principal Investigator,7817677042,rwelser@magnoliasolar.com,"The long-term objective of this program is to develop flexible, lightweight, single-junction solar cells using quantum structured designs that can achieve ultra-high efficiencies (approaching 45%) while avoiding the current matching issues that plague high-efficiency multi-junction devices. Ultra-low dark currents and record-high open circuit voltages have recently been achieved with a novel III-V material structure that includes both an InGaAs quantum well absorber and an extended wide band gap emitter. By enhancing absorption in the narrow band gap well, power conversion efficiencies in single-junction quantum solar cells can potentially exceed those of multi-junction photovoltaic devices. The objective of the Phase I SBIR effort is to design and prototype a high performance quantum well solar cell device incorporating advanced light trapping techniques. To enhance light trapping, we will leverage both an established epitaxial liftoff process and unique optical coatings to scatter light laterally into waveguide modes within the InGaAs well region of the device."
"Thin, Flexible, Quantum-Structured Solar Cells",FA9453-11-C-0173,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,750000.00,Magnolia Solar Inc.,54 Cummings Park,Suite 316,Woburn,MA,-,No,No,No,Yash R. Puri,Executive VP&CFO,(781) 497-2900,yrpuri@magnoliasolar.com,Roger E. Welser,Chief Technical Officer,(781) 497-2900,rwelser@magnoliasolar.com,"ABSTRACT: The epitaxial liftoff of multi-junction structures provides a means to build photovoltaic devices that are flexible, light weight, and highly efficient. However, current approaches to increasing the AM0 efficiency of multi-junction structures are reaching practical limitations due to the complexity of the device design. The objective of this Phase II SBIR program is to develop innovative designs based upon third generation photovoltaic device concepts. By combining wide and narrow band gap material within each p-n junction, quantum-structured solar cells can increase the current and the voltage output of each of the subcells within a multi-junction solar cell. Ultimately our approach provides a pathway for obtaining, thin, flexible, single-junction solar cells with AM0 efficiency approaching 40%. BENEFIT: Photovoltaic (PV) devices can provide a mobile source of electrical power for a variety of military applications in both space and terrestrial environments. Many of these mobile power applications can directly benefit from enhancements in the efficiency of the photovoltaic devices. In particular, flexible, lightweight, high-efficiency solar cells are needed to maximize the power generating capability of space platforms. Ground-based and air-based defense applications can also benefit from the development of flexible, lightweight cells with improved efficiency. The technology developed during this program is expected to have immediate market opportunities for defense applications. The SBIR project described here is also part of a larger effort to realize the ultimate objective of third generation photovoltaics, namely ultra-high conversion efficiency at low costs for terrestrial photovoltaic power. Ultra-high efficiency solar cells could substantially enhance the overall performance of terrestrial concentrator photovoltaic systems. This technology could thus accelerate the adoption of photovoltaics into the renewable energy market to address the world""s growing energy needs without degrading the environment. In addition to its potential commercial value and social benefits, this SBIR program will enhance the technical understanding of quantum-structured devices."
Second Generation Companion Mics System,4R44DC010971-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,485644.00,"Etymotic Research, Inc.",61 Martin Lane,,Elk Grove Village,IL,-,No,No,No,Mead C. Killion,,847-228-0006,m_killion@etymotic.com,Mead C. Killion,,847-228-0006,M_KILLION@ETYMOTIC.COM,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Approximately 10 percent of hearing aid wearers have 10 dB loss of ability to understand speech in noise, in the sense that they require a signal-to-noise ratio 10 dB better than normal-hearing listeners. Since at many restaurants and social gatherings the normal- hearing listeners themselves are forced to carry on conversations near the limit of their ability, those with a 10 dB or greater SNR loss are left out of the conversation. Being left out of normal socialinteraction often leads to depression and physical problems. The aim of this project is to develop a second-generation multi-talker, multi-listener (R) version of the original Companion Mics system. The original system allows one listener to hear three talkers with a 15-20 dB improvement in signal-to-noise ratio, which allows someone with a 10-20 dB SNR loss to carry on a conversation easily in a noisy situation. The goal of the second-generation design is to a) improve user acceptance by dramaticallyreducing the size and weight compared to the existing device, c) add the capability to allow two or more listeners to listen, c) increase ease of use by eliminating the need for the users to remember to turn the Listener Units on before the Talker Unit, d)reduce the latency below 32 mS. This will be pursued following the method of the first generation, which is extensive reprogramming of a Bluetooth chip set to allow more listeners and talkers and increase the bandwidth to 7.8 kHz and reduce the distortionof typical Bluetooth- programmed circuits to essentially zero. In order to obtain information that may help determine that a smaller device will be more acceptable, two university clinics, Pittsburgh University and the University of Iowa and one privateclinic (Northwest Speech and Hearing in Illinois) have agreed to perform a series of experiments to: a) compare the impression of individuals from the public at large on several 7-point scales ( appears old to appears young, for example) to see if thesmaller size is accompanied by a significantly better reaction to the devices as worn, b) investigate the degree of increased acceptance (if any) to physical models of the old and newer devices reduce the stigma of using the device c) obtain before and after measurements of benefit and satisfaction using several known scales including APHAB, SADL, COSI, GLASCO, PIADS, and DOSO. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Being left out of normal social interaction often leads to depression and physical problems.Approximately 10 percent of hearing aid wearers have a sufficient loss of ability to hear in noise that they are excluded from conversations at many restaurants and social gatherings where normal-hearing listeners themselves are forced to carry on conversations near the limit of their ability. The planned device will allow several talkers to be heard clearly by two listeners with severe hearing loss, listeners who would otherwise not be able to participate."
Improved Sensing Using Simultaneous Orthogonal Spectroscopic Detection,W911SR-11-C-0009,DOD,ARMY,STTR,2011,2,729062.00,"Applied Systems Research, Inc.",12150 Monument Drive,Suite 502,Fairfax,VA,22033-,No,No,No,Kelly Coutras,Business Manager,(703) 273-3773,kcoutras@asrinc.us,Jeffrey Spaulding,Chief Scientist,(703) 273-3773,jspaulding@asrinc.us,"US forces are increasingly involved in asymmetric warfare, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance missions. These scenarios can place soldiers in direct contact with harmful biological and chemical warfare organisms and agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and explosives. Current portable sensor technology solutions rely on visible and near-IR Raman or fluorescence spectroscopy. A portable sensor system that combines both Raman and fluorescence measurements using Deep UV (DUV) Excitation should improve detection and classification of trace amounts of substances at stand-off distances. Phase I characterized sample analytes of chemical and biological agent simulants, explosives, toxic chemical and interferent substances to obtain their Raman and fluorescence spectra, and developed preliminary classification algorithms to identify substances and mixtures based on the combined modalities. Though Raman spectra are significantly more specific than LIF spectra, Phase I provided evidence of value in combining two modalities. Phase II will characterize significantly more substances, develop classification algorithms, investigate minimum design parameters required for unambiguous detection, and test them via a laboratory test bed. These activities should demonstrate the feasibility of developing a Phase III non-contact prototype system with greater sensitivity, improved detection, and cost and size reduction in fieldable instruments through the use of smaller, less expensive, lower-resolution spectrometers."
Alternative Green Technology for Power Generation Using Waste-Heat Energy And Advanced Thermoelectric Materials,NNX11CI34P,NASA,NASA,STTR,2011,1,99922.00,Brimrose Technology Corporation,MD,19 Loveton Circle,Sparks,MD,21152-9201,No,No,No,Diane C Murray,Business Official,9365886901,dmurray@brimrosetechnology.com,Dr. Sudhir B. Trivedi,Principal Investigator,4104722600,strivedi@brimrose.com,"NASA is interested in advancing green technology research for achieving sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources for both terrestrial and space applications. It has been reported that thermo-electric power generation (TEPG) can contribute to electrical power generation scavenged from waste heat sources. Significant advantages to TE technology include: no moving parts, low-weight, modularity, covertness, high power density, low amortized cost, and long service life with no required maintenance. TEPG also has the potential of enabling large-scale electric power generation. We propose to continue are on-going research of PbTe single crystals and investigate the FAST technique, developed by Penn State Univ., to produce bulk nano-composites. We will assemble the material into TE devices and optimize the high temperature electrical contacts for minimal resistivity. We expect to standardize the processes to produce device with efficiency up to 10% (we currently have efficiency of 4.4%) by the end of Phase II. The major goal of the proposed work is to establish the feasibility that kilowatt levels of power can be produced in an environmentally clean (pollution free) manner using TEPG."
Development Of CdMgTe and CdMgSe For Optical Switching Applications,FA8650-11-C-5116,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,749590.00,Brimrose Technology Corporation,MD,19 Loveton Circle,Sparks,MD,21152-9201,No,No,No,Diane C. Murray,Contract Coordinator,(936) 588-6901,dmurray@brimrosetechnology.com,Sudhir B. Trivedi,Prin. Scientist/Dir R&D D,(410) 472-2600,strivedi@brimrose.com,"Presently, there is an increase need for materials that exhibit strong nonlinear absorption for various military applications. In addition, materials with the following characteristics are desired: variable band gap, a cut-on wavelength of 0.4 through 1.4 micron, and a linear transmission greater than 98 percent from the visible (0.4 micron) through the NIR/SWIR (0.65 through 3 micron). In Phase I, we investigated Cd1-xMgxTe and Cd1-xMgxSe for their usefulness in optical switching applications. These materials have nonlinear absorption in the wavelength range from visible to NIR, and possibly extending to SWIR. Phase II work will further investigate the growth of IIA/B-VIB ternary materials with a goal of standardizing and optimizing the growth procedures that produce device quality crystals. The major challenges in producing and processing these materials include: the highly reactive and corrosive nature of group II A elements and II A- VI compound melts; the phase diagrams of these II-VI materials are not very well understood, and the purity of commercially available group II A elements is only 99.9% which is not adequate to make semiconductor grade materials. As the end result of this Phase II work, we will be capable of producing material that can be directly used as passive optical switching. BENEFIT: Presently, numerous military and commercial systems utilize the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) spectral region for target detection. Unfortunately, a significant amount of spectral information is oftentimes lost because of weather or other environmental conditions. As a result, many systems are utilizing the visible (VIS) to the short wave infrared (SWIR) spectral regions. This has lead to an increase in the need for materials that can provide filtering across multiple broad wavelength regions and have the ability to filter out unwanted information. The materials proposed in this research can be engineered to meet these requirements. Applications include optical limiting, eye and sensor protection, optical pulse shaping, information processing, and laser mode locking."
Near-Field Transducing Plasmonic Detector (NTRAP),W31P4Q-11-C-0149,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99984.00,Five Stones Research Corporation,5767 Cove Commons Drive Suite 103c,,Hampton Cove,AL,35741-,Yes,Yes,No,Joni R. Green,CEO,(256) 975-0848,JRGreen@5sr-hsv.com,K. L. Kelly,Design Engineer,(256) 541-9639,LKelly@5sr-hsv.com,"An innovative approach is required for making a useful advance in the field of low power tampering detection and reverse engineering technologies. Our team's proposal is to investigate and test such an approach, utilizing near-field transduction and plasmonic components. Advantages of this approach include being low power, optional optical sensitivity, and small size."
Monolithic Scalable Mid-Infrared Phase-Locked Laser Array,N68335-11-C-0432,DOD,NAVY,STTR,2011,1,149883.00,Intraband LLC,200 N. Prospect Ave.,,Madison,WI,-,No,No,No,Robert Marsland,President,(608) 239-3296,rmarsland@tds.net,Luke Mawst,Member,(608) 332-2520,mawst@charter.net,"The technical objectives of this proposal are: 1) the design of 3.8-4.2 micron-emitting, active-photonic-crystal (APC) quantum-cascade (QC) lasers by using passive phase-locking in a monolithic structure in order to achieve multiwatt-range, diffraction-limited powers; and 2) the development of the key crystal- growth processes for realizing the proposed APC QC laser: the growth and characterization of QC active- region materials (i.e., InGaAs/AlInAs strained-layer superlattices) on virtual substrates. Novel deep-well (DW) QC lasers will be designed to suppress carrier leakage out of active regions, resulting in electro-optic characteristics with low temperature sensitivity. For achieving high coherent power at the chip level, a novel type of APC-type structure is proposed whose elements are DW-QC lasers emitting in the 3.8-4.2 micron region. The design will be for APC devices of built-in index step an order of magnitude higher than for conventional APC-QC devices, as to achieve stable-beam operation in CW operation to high coherent powers. For 3.8-4.2 micron-emitting devices the design will be for usable CW powers larger than 7 W delivered in diffraction-limited beams. A plan for monolithically scaling coherent power to the 50-100 W range and the economical fabrication of the proposed APC devices with high production yield will be developed."
Multi-day Pain Management Therapy with Novel Injectable Formulation,1R43DA032294-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,253678.00,"ORBIS BIOSCIENCES, INC.",2002 W 39th Ave,,KANSAS CITY,KS,66013-,No,No,No,Maria S. Flynn,,816-223-2662,maria@orbisbio.com,Maria Flynn,,816-223-2662,maria@orbisbio.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our long term goal is to widespread the use of PPF technology for promoting effective production of drug-encapsulating microparticles with uniform size and physical characteristics that can be leveraged to release a specific drug at controlled rates over multi-day periods in vivo after a single administration. For this proposal, we are specifically targeting a cost and dose-effective management of chronic pain with precisely tailored drug release characteristics. Chronicpain afflicts a large population in United States. Extended release formulations of safer (unscheduled) opioids can improve patient compliance and drug efficacy, and can limit the possibility of breakthrough pain, all without putting the patients at the risk of addiction. However, existing extended release opioid formulations are insufficient, and are limited to providing relief up to a maximum of 24 h. Using tramadol, an unscheduled opioid, this project aims to create a long-acting (up to 5-day) tramadolformulation in an injectable form to enhance pain relief and fill a critical innovation gap in the pharmaceutical market. The specific objective of this application is to optimize tramadol-loaded microspheres produced by PPF technology with a 5 day zero-order drug release profiles, imitating a constant infusion pump-like dosing (Specific Aim 1), and validate the results achieved with extended release formulations of tramadol in vivo (Specific Aim 2). Our overall hypothesis is that extended pain management therapy developed using uniform microspheres produced by PPF technology will offer a cost and dose-effective management of chronic pain with precisely tailored drug release characteristics, which will provide a more controlled and predictable drug release compared to tramadol-loaded microspheres fabricated using conventional methods, and significantly improve controlled release characteristics compared to contemporary commercially-available sustained-release pain management products (e.g., ULTRAM(R)). Multi-day chronic pain management therapy holds the potential to provide a revolutionary alternative for pain management. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Chronic pain afflicts a large population in United States. Extended release formulations of safer (unscheduled) opioids can improve patient compliance and drug efficacy, and can limit the possibility of breakthrough pain, all without putting the patients at the risk of addiction. However, existing extended release opioid formulations are insufficient, and are limited to providing relief up to a maximum of 24 h. Using tramadol, an unscheduled opioid, this project aims to create a long- acting (up to 5-day) tramadol formulation in an injectable form to enhance pain relief and fill a critical innovation gap in the pharmaceutical market."
Cold Weather Technology Development for Low Altitude Ultra-Long Endurance Applications,NNX11CB03C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,750000.00,"Vanilla Aircraft, LLC",VA,,Falls Church,VA,22042-7716,No,No,No,Jeremy Novara,Business Official,7037039070,jeremy@vanillaaircraft.com,Daniel N. Hatfield,Principal Investigator,7038499070,daniel@vanillaaircraft.com,"Currently, wide area coverage with manned aircraft, or existing unmanned air systems, requires expensive logistical operations and many flight sorties, which are made especially difficult if operating from remote airfields in inhospitable climates. There is currently a need for a low-altitude long endurance unmanned aircraft that can provide the expansive coverage necessary for cryospheric investigations. Extreme cold places unique requirements on aircraft if they are to operate consistently and reliably in these environments. Building on the successful results of the Phase 1 SBIR work, this Phase 2 SBIR will test low temperature long-endurance unmanned aircraft engine and systems technologies in a relevant environment through flight test of a prototype unmanned air system and associated work."
Robust Electric Aerial Instrument Platform for Volcanic Environments,NNX11CD33P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"Vanilla Aircraft, LLC",VA,,Falls Church,VA,22042-7716,No,No,No,Jeremy Novara,Business Official,7038499070,jeremy@vanillaaircraft.com,Neil T. Boertlein,Principal Investigator,7038499070,neil@vanillaaircraft.com,"The innovation proposed for research, and evaluation, and maturation is that of a new class of small Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) with increased payload capability, which may be well suited for use as an aerial payload platform in harsh, remote environments. In specific, the innovation proposed is the use of a hybrid structure in an electric man-portable UAS for scientific use. The fabrication techniques to be investigated in Phase 1 will also lead to a unique and repeatable lean airframe manufacturing process."
Optical Fluorescence and X-Ray Computed Tomography Scanner for Small Animal In-Vi,4R44RR030701-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,748684.00,"BIOSCAN, INC.",4590 MACARTHUR BLVD NW,,WASHINGTON,DC,20007-4226,No,No,No,Chris Eckenrod,,202-338-0974,sschulman@bioscan.com,Seth D. Shulman,,202-338-0974,sschulman@bioscan.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall goal of this application is to develop a quantitative in-vivo small animal imaging system for fluorescent reporter probes that fuses fluorescence light emitting computed tomography (FLECT) with X- ray computed tomography (CT). The proposed dual-modality imaging system will not only provide a research tool for better understanding of biological function and processes on a cellular or molecular level in-vivo, but will also aid the development of new drug therapies and accelerate their translation into the clinic. Conventional imaging methods only provide two-dimensional (2D) fluorescence surface images and, hence, do not reveal the actual spatial location and concentration of the targeted reporter system. Furthermore, current fluorescence tomography (FT) systems are still in a developing stage and suffer from several limitations. First, these FT systems assume optically uniform tissue models that, consequently, prohibit the accurate quantification of the reporterprobe's location and concentration. Second, neither planar fluorescence imaging nor FT provides any anatomical information. Hence, the reconstructed reporter probe location cannot be localized relative to the animal's anatomy. The proposed FLECT/CT systemwill overcome these limitations in two ways. First, we will leverage the anatomical information gained from CT with its high spatial resolution and assign optical properties to various segmented organs. These non-uniform optical property maps will in turnimprove quantitative fluorescence image reconstruction leading to accurate images about the reporter probe's actual spatial location and concentration. Second, structural images from CT will provide the anatomical information that is necessary for co-locating the fluorescent reporter probe to the animal's anatomy. In Phase 1, we will perform numerical simulations and tissue phantom experiments that will provide a proof of principle for the proposed FLECT/CT system. We will demonstrate that (1) applying non-uniform optical property maps to FLECT reconstructions makes quantitative tomographic imaging of reporter probes feasible and (2) spatial maps of organs with largely varying optical properties can be segmented from CT images. In Phase 2, a commercial grade FLECT/CT system will be developed where the optical and X-ray components share the same rotating gantry. We will develop fully automated image segmentation methods and different techniques for assigning optical parameters to segmented organs. The opticalparameters will be determined by (1) optical tomography in a reduced parameter space, (2) from known (oxy-)hemoglobin concentrations in different tissue types, or from (3) optical parameter databases of prior experiments. Last, the performance of the FLECT/CT system will be evaluated in small animal imaging experiments. Once completed, our FLECT/CT system will provide a powerful tool for research of cancer, neurological pathologies, and cardiovascular disease. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed development of a combined fluorescence tomography and X-ray CT imaging system for small animals will reconstruct and display the three-dimensional in-vivo distribution of fluorescent reporter probes for studying molecular processes in a living biological system. The combination of fluorescence tomography with X-ray CT will significantly improve the image quality of fluorescence tomographic images and will co-register them to structural CT images showing the animal's anatomy. Therefore, the proposed imaging system would not only be of great significance for better understanding biological processes and pathological function in living small animals on a cellular and molecular level, but would also aid the development of new drug therapies and accelerate their translation into the clinic."
SBIR TOPIC 294 PHASE I - DEVELOPMENT OF GLYCOSYLATION - SPECIFIC RESEARCH,N43CO110072,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,149993.00,"APTAKON, INC.",8333 HICKMAN MILLS DR,,KANSAS CITY,MO,64132-2515,No,No,No,Richard Suderman,,816-510-7674,RJSUDERMAN@GMAIL.COM,Richard Suderman,,816-510-7674,RJSUDERMAN@GMAIL.COM,"The function of many cancer related proteins is modulated by modifications such as phosphorylation and glycosylation. The development of antibodies that recognize site-specific phosphorylation has vastly improved our understanding of signal transductionand cancer cell physiology and regulation. However, almost no available antibodies recognize site specific glycosylation, and in particular, N-acetylglycosamine modification of serines and threonines (O-GlcNAc). Possible reasons for this are poor immunogenicity in animals, or that antibodies are not appropriate for recognizing OGlcNAc in a site specific fashion. These limitations may make it extremely challenging to generate site-specific anti-OGlcNAc antibodies with sufficient affinity and selectivityto be useful research tools. A non-antibody-based approach has the potential to serve as an alternative method for generating affinity capture reagents that recognize site-specific OGlcNAc. Aptakon has developed a 14 kD protein scaffold with randomizablebinding loops that is not subject to the limitations described for antibodies. Aptakon aims to: screen phagemid libraries of this scaffold for binders to O-GlcNAc modified regions of cancer relevant proteins; generate applications data for these binders; optimize a master library for identifying O-GlcNAc modified peptides; and to produce standard operational procedures for isolation and characterization of these high affinity binders. This technology has the potential to spawn significant advances in cancer related signal transduction research similar to the advent of phospho-specific antibodies. These new products will have the potential to increase the productivity of researchers and thereby accelerate the development of drugs and diagnostic testsfor cancer."
"Multi-view, Photon Counting DXA Scanner for Quantitative Musculoskeletal Imaging",1R43AR057609-01A2,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,237900.00,"QUANTUM MEDICAL METRICS, LLC",1450 S. Rolling Road,,Baltimore,MD,21227-,No,No,No,George Ma,,443-543-5471,gma@qmminc.com,Thomas J. Beck,,410-955-2684,tbeck@qmminc.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The fragility of osteoporotic bones is largely due to alterations in the underlying structural geometry. Research has demonstrated that it is possible to measure the mechanical geometry of human bones in vivo using dualenergy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. However DXA scanners are designed to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and not structural geometry. The 2-dimensional relatively poor quality images adequate for BMD are not well suited to measuring geometry of 3-dimensional bones. In this Phase I SBIR project we propose to use a full-sized benchtop system to test the properties of a multiple-projection DXA scanner designed to measure bone geometry in any body region with higher quality image data. The scanner willemploy a multi-row array of counting detectors in a slot-scanning configuration to produce higher quality material decompositions and higher spatial resolution than any existing DXA system. The scanner is designed to accommodate projections through thickbody regions or obese patients with little loss of SNR by adjusting the x-ray flux, scan time and or the spectral filter. In this project the system design will be completed so that a human capable prototype can be built and tested on humans in Phase 2. The C-arm gantry design is to be configured for scanning of the entire body with sizes from neonate to 99th percentile adults with the patient either recumbent or erect. It will also scan anybody sub-region in any axial projection. The system design employsa flexible detector interface and scanning configuration so that counting detectors from several vendors may be tested. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Bone densitometry scanners are designed to measure bone density as way to determine if patients are susceptible to osteoporotic fractures but current scanners are accurate only 50% of the time. The principles used in bone densitometry scanners can be employed to measure the bone structure for a more direct evaluation of bone strength, but scanners need better image quality and the ability to view bones from multiple directions. The purpose of this proposal is to test the principles of an x-ray scanner that uses spectral information to provide multiple high-quality views of patient's bones so that strength canbe estimated using engineering methods. If successful a scanner capable of scanning patients either erect or recumbent will be built in Phase 2 and tested on human volunteers."
SiC-SiC and C-SiC Honeycomb for Advanced Flight Structures,NNX11CA38C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599803.00,Ultracor,CA,,Livermore,CA,94551-9240,No,No,No,Stan Wright,Business Official,9259253010,stan@ultracorinc.com,Stan Wright,Principal Investigator,9259253010,stan@ultracorinc.com,"The proposed project builds upon the work done in Phase I with the development of a C-SiC CMC honeycomb material that was successfully tested for mechanical properties at both ambient and high temperature. The further study expands to include the development of an SiC-SiC honeycomb using the proven infiltration process of the Phase I project. In the proposed project, an SiC prepreg will be engineered that can be formed into a honeycomb and then infiltrated with SiC to form a ceramic SiC-SiC honeycomb. The honeycomb will then be tested mechanically at ambient temperature and high temperature. This testing will include cycling the material to determine property falloff. C-SiC and SiC SiC will be compared in this study. The thermal characteristics, such as conductivity and emissivity, will also be tested. The integration of such a material into hypersonic and other structures is a key area of the research; therefore a bonding study is included in the current proposal. Several bonding technologies and processes will be investigated and tested mechanically as well as cycled to determine durability. The goal of the study is to provide a sandwich level technology that can be integrated into hypersonic vehicle structures and acreage."
Nanoporous Membranes for cellular microarrays and in vitro assays,1R43GM097792-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,184665.00,"SIMPORE, INC.",150 LUCIUS GORDON DRIVE,,WEST HENRIETTA,NY,14586-,No,No,No,Thomas Gaborski,,585-233-0693,tgaborski@simpore.com,Thomas R. Gaborski,,585-273-1739,tgaborski@simpore.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Advances in protein and DNA microarrays have enabled dramatic increases in throughput and equipment standardization has made these techniques more commonplace. High density, high throughput microarrays reduce the cost of research and development in drug discovery and basic science by decreasing reagent volumes and increasing the number of experiments per plate. Missing from this miniaturization, however, are cell culture microarrays. Existing low well count cell cultureplates require greater volumes of precious drug formulations for permeability assays and more plates are required to complete a series of experiments. These same factors increase the cost of parallelized cellular experimentation in basic science such as screening stem cell culture differentiation conditions. In this proposal we will test the feasibility of using a new class of ultrathin nanoporous membrane to enable miniaturization of cell culture screening for high throughout drug permeability and co-culture studies. At the limit we will enable single cell screening to study phenotypic and behavioral variations in cell populations in response to stimuli, drug treatments or co-culture environments. In the first Aim of this work, we will fabricate microarray-scale cell culture arrays using porous nanocrystalline silicon (pnc-Si). We will confirm these devices and size format promote healthy growth of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells by comparing cytotoxicity and growth curve measurements againstlarger conventional cell inserts. To test feasibility as a high throughout platform for single cell and co-culture screening, we will develop a microarray of wells on pnc-Si. Our approach is novel because we will be the first to offer a membranesupported microarray that enables study variations in populations of cancer cells, stem cells as well as primary cell response to drug treatment in a co-culture environment. In Phase II we will focus on drug screening and stem cell differentiation with the goal of developing an automated cell dispensing and fluorescent image analysis system. In both cases we will also pursue enlarged microarrays (gt100 microns) with degradable membrane supports, which will permit the growth a small islands of stratified tissue. Successful completion of Phase I will enable the launch of a live imaging research tool for small-scale cell co-culture. Within 6 months of completing Phase II, we will introduce a 384-window microarray system with gt105 wells. HEALTH RELEVANCE: SiMPore'spnc-Si membranes are a breakthrough technology 1,000x thinner than conventional and other nanoporous membranes, with permeability more than 100 times greater. These characteristics enable miniaturization of conventional cell culture and the development ofhigh---throughput screens for single cell co-culture research including stem cell differentiation, cancer cell response to drugs and tissue engineering."
Microfabricated porous TEM grids for improved phase contrast and CryoEM imaging,1R43RR033156-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,155819.00,"SIMPORE, INC.",150 LUCIUS GORDON DRIVE,,WEST HENRIETTA,NY,14586-,No,No,No,Christopher Striemer,,585-748-5980,cstriemer@simpore.com,Thomas R. Gaborski,,585-273-1739,tgaborski@simpore.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cryo electron microscopy is a powerful technique for generating 3-D images of macromolecules and their interactions with fine structure within cells. These materials are imbedded in their native state within a thin layer of amorphous ice for imaging in a transmission electron microscope. By taking a series of images at various angles, 3-D reconstructions can be made. However, these low-density materials produce little contrast in TEM images, and this effect is compoundedby the limited electron current that can be applied to these fragile samples before damage is likely to occur. One of the most promising methods to increase image clarity is through the use of phase contrast imaging where specially designed phase plates (Zernike phase plates in this work) are used to develop contrast between electrons that are scattered by the sample and those that pass directly through. Unfortunately, despite the availability of sophisticated microscopes that are designed to accept phaseplates, researchers are frustrated by the lack of consistently manufactured, high-quality phase plates. In this proposed project, extensive microfabrication expertise in the manufacture of ultrathin materials for EM grid applications is being applied to the problem of phase plate production. Through a collaboration between TEMWindows.com, a respected ultrathin membrane fabricator, and the Wadsworth Center, a pioneer in the development of cryo and phase contrast electron imaging, a series of phase platedesigns will be produced using well-controlled and manufacturable methods, and these devices will be directly compared to current carbon-based phase plates. The goal is to produce stable, consistent, and low cost phase plates that show little backgroundcharging over long duration in a TEM. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The project described in this proposal will provide a commercial source of contrast enhancing phase plates to remove a bottleneck and advance the development of cryo electron microscopy.This technique is used to study the 3-D structure of large molecules and how they interact with the complex structures within cells. This structural information is critical to understanding fundamental processes involved in various disease states that impact public health."
Nanotechnology-enhanced High-efficient Miniaturized Energy Harvesting Systems,W31P4Q-11-C-0230,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,370144.00,ELORET,"465 S. Mathilda Ave., Suite 103",,Sunnyvale,CA,-,No,No,No,Jan Heinemann,CEO,(408) 732-3028,jheinemann@eloret.com,Michael Oye,Senior Research Scientist,(650) 604-1179,mikeoye@gmail.com,"The Project Objective is to achieve a piezoelectric energy harvesting device based on nanotechnology-enhanced materials. The power density is expected to achieve ~1-10 mW per cubic mm and are compatible with Army applications in the field to power autonomous miniaturized sensors. The novelty involves synthesizing piezoelectric nanowires, using commercially upscalable techniques, and incorporating the nanowires into nanowire/polymer composites that are suitable for improving the power density beyond previously-achieved results from other groups. The description of the effort can be broken down into four tasks as follows: 1) fabrication of piezoelectric nanowires that possess either high piezoelectric coefficients and/or ease of device integration capabilities, 2) mixing nanowire and polymer matrices to enhance the piezoelectric response in a device structure, 3) prototyping multiple device architectures amenable to high power density generation, and 4) optimizing of device structure. The effort will also encompass the development of novel device architectures that are capable of improving the collection efficiency across multiple vibration ranges (Hz to kHz) as well as vibration direction."
Ultra-High Energy Density Piezoelectric Nanocomposites for Lightweight Power Harvesting Micro-Systems,W31P4Q-11-C-0217,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,375000.00,HARP Engineering LLC,2779 SW 103rd ST,,Gainesville,FL,32608-,Yes,No,No,Henry Sodano,Chief Technology Officer,(480) 205-1202,hsodano@gmail.com,Yirong Lin,Research Scientist,(480) 205-1202,abide831@gmail.com,"The proposed research effort will develop a highly efficient MEMS energy harvesters that utilize a novel nanocomposite technology recently developed by HARP Engineering LLC. Unlike existing piezoelectric nanocomposites, the material proposed here has an electromechanical coupling coefficient higher than most monolithic piezoceramics typically used in MEMS processing. This nanocomposite technology will be further developed and will be used to create power harvesters that capitalize of the fracture toughness of the polymer matrix to offer robustness to damage for use in harsh battlefield conditions. The nanocomposite will also lead to resonators with significantly lower natural frequencies than silicon technologies, which will allow more efficient energy conversion at the frequencies typically available for harvesting. At the conclusion of the effort a micro-scale energy harvester will be produced to demonstrate the system performance. We will seek to commercialize all three technologies developed under this contract, namely the piezoelectric nanowires, the nanocomposites and the energy harvesters to maximize the commercial impact of the work."
ZnO Nanowire Interleave for Enhanced Interlaminar Strength,N68335-11-C-0320,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,750000.00,HARP Engineering LLC,2779 SW 103rd ST,,Gainesville,FL,32608-,Yes,No,No,Henry Sodano,Chief Technology Officer,(480) 205-1202,hsodano@gmail.com,Michael Garcia,Research Scientist,(480) 205-1202,megarci1@yahoo.com,"The objective of this SBIR research project is to develop a treatment for interlaminar reinforcement that maintains the composite""s in-plane properties. Because the interlaminar region is a critical component of the composite and no current technology adequately addresses its weaknesses, this research has the potential for major commercial and technological impacts. The current technology gap to address the interlaminar strength and the DoDs high demand for improved composites will offer numerous opportunities to insert our technology into a range of defense applications. The interlaminar reinforcement has been accomplished through the treatment of prepreg. Unlike existing treatments, the technology developed in this effort is low cost, environmentally benign, compatible with prepreg processing, can be extended to a production-scale and does not require advanced tooling or resin transfer processes (although it can be blended into the polymer prior to impregnation or RTM)."
Modeling Tools for the Development of Innovative Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) Local Area Networks (LAN),N68335-11-C-0416,DOD,NAVY,STTR,2011,1,79999.00,RAM Photonics,4901 Morena Blvd. Suite 128,,San Diego,CA,-,No,No,No,John Marciante,Managing Member,(585) 771-7311,john.marciante@ramphotonics.com,John Marciante,Managing Member,(585) 771-7311,john.marciante@ramphotonics.com,"Wavelength-division multiplexing has been employed to great success in long-haul transmission systems to increase capacity and provide a new means (wavelength) of routing. Their application to local-area networks (LANs) on aircraft is promising due to the light weight and narrow cross section of optical fiber, as well as fiber""s immunity to EMI. However, the dominant transmission impairments for aircraft LANs are different than long-haul transmission systems and therefore require a different development tool. Of primary concern to aircraft LANs are high loss, multipath interference (MPI), and signal degeneration through multiple WDM components. We propose a potentially fast and efficient model for WDM LAN development, based on transfer matrices (TMs). TMs have the general advantage of representing entire systems by only a single or small number of matrices and have been used successfully to model photonic components in series. This program seeks to extend transfer-matrix modeling beyond systems in series to systems in ring and mesh topologies that have a multitude of input and output lightpaths. Successful completion of this program will prove out the efficiency and scalability of a transfer-matrix approach to a network of WDM components."
High-Performance Nonlinear Compensator for Next-Generation Fiber Optic Gyroscopes,HQ0147-11-C-7594,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99950.00,RAM Photonics,4901 Morena Blvd. Suite 128,,San Diego,CA,-,No,No,No,John Marciante,Managing Member,(585) 748-2900,john.marciante@ramphotonics.com,John Marciante,Managing Member,(585) 748-2900,john.marciante@ramphotonics.com,"Fiber-optic gyroscopes (FOGs) are used as the fundamental building block for high-precision inertial and angular displacement sensors in applications ranging from missile and UAV to war-plane and satellite navigation. The nonlinearity-induced non-reciprocity in FOGs is recognized as the critical impairment limiting the obtainable sensing accuracy and precision. In effect, the entire three-decade-long development path of FOG is primarily Kerr-effect non-reciprocity mitigation, thus enabling improved precision navigation instrumentation in each subsequent generation of angular displacement sensors. We propose to develop the first true nonlinearity compensator in a robust, miniature-sized platform, fully compatible with the existing FOG technology. In this program, we will perform in-depth computational modeling, based on proven theoretical frameworks, that will be quantitatively validated and benchmarked by experiments in a state-of-the-art research facility. Successful completion of this program will result in calculation of the ultimate performance limitations of the proposed design, derivation of the engineering rules governing practical operation of the nonlinearity compensator, and a baseline design for a Phase II program."
"Fast, Narrow Linewidth Near Infrared (NIR) / Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) Scanner",HR0011-11-9-0004,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,749875.00,RAM Photonics,4901 Morena Blvd. Suite 128,,San Diego,CA,-,No,No,No,John Marciante,Managing Member,(585) 748-2900,john.marciante@ramphotonics.com,John Marciante,Managing Member,(585) 748-2900,john.marciante@ramphotonics.com,"Rapid tuning of narrowband sources is inherently limited by the number of roundtrips required in the high-Q cavity, which is required for generation of a narrow lasing linewidth. We propose to break the cavity tuning/linewidth barrier presented by conventional reconfiguration of the physical cavity itself. In our proposed configuration, the linewidth, scanning speed, and tuning range are decoupled in a practical and realizable design using technology block similar to those that have been previously demonstrated. In the Phase II effort, we will develop the preliminary design from Phase I into an operational prototype of a new tunable source class. The primary technical objective of Phase II is the design and construction of an operational device capable of qualitatively faster scan speeds and wider spectral range than any other known technology. The secondary objective of Phase II is the demonstration of the utility of this new device in applications that are presently out of reach of present technology."
A Human Fc Bifunctional Fusion Protein to Treat Severe Allergic Asthma,1R43AI092914-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,443494.00,"TUNITAS THERAPEUTICS, INC.",409 Illinois Street,,San Francisco,CA,-,No,No,No,Nolan Sigal,,650-887-4747,nsigal@tunitastherapeutics.com,Nolan Sigal,,650-887-4747,nsigal@tunitastherapeutics.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall goal of this proposal is to develop and commercialize a novel biologic therapy for the treatment of allergic disease and particularly allergic asthma. Specifically, this proposal will provide the critical immunogenicity, mechanistic and biomarker data that will position a novel biologic, GE2, for human clinical trials in allergic disease. The therapeutic molecule is a genetically engineered human fusion protein consisting of a portion of the human gamma1 Fc linked to a portion of the human epsilon Fc chain [(hinge-h2-3(1)-linker- (ch2-3-4()] that is designated as GE2 . Effective treatments for severe inhalant allergy/asthma and food allergy represent major unmet needs. Asthma affects 5-10% of the US population or an estimated 14-15 million persons, including 5 million children. There were an estimated 1.8 million US emergency department visits, 500,000 hospitalizations and 5000 deaths annually and an increase of over 100% in the United States between 1985 and1997 with these trends stabilizing more recently. This proposal is designed to address safety and biomarker experiments that are critical for the successful development GE2. Extensive preclinical mechanistic and therapeutic studies have both defined the optimal molecule design and shown its therapeutic efficacy. We are now poised to move GE2 studies to human clinical trials. However, the key remaining question is the potential in vivo immunogenicity of the GE2 molecule. This question assumes particular importance given the targeting of GE2 to the high affinity IgE receptor (FcRI) on mast cells and basophils whereby immunogenicity might not only inhibit GE2's function but could lead to serious adverse effects. Thus, Phase I of the grant proposal is designed to test the hypothesis that GE2 is not immunogenic in homologous animals using rhesus monkeys, provide key mechanistic information and biomarkers and lay the groundwork to make the human GE2 for IND-enabling and phase 1 human studies. Phase II of this proposal is designed to complete the key experimental pre-clinical steps on the path to commercialization. To achieve this goal, we will produce rhesus GE2 (rhGE2) for immunogenicity and mechanistic studies and derive a stable high-expressing human GE2 (hGE2) CHO cell line for Phase II of the proposed grant. Rhesus macaques will be given rhGE2 subcutaneously at four-week intervals (control, 1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg) for a total of 3 doses. GE2's immunogenicity will be assessed by testing animals for the development ofanti-GE2 antibodies over the 3- month protocol. Simultaneously, we will test whether GE2 (1) inhibits IgE production and (2) decreases circulating basophils in non-human primates, two important mechanistic endpoints and potential biomarkers for future phase 1 clinical trials will be assessed. Once completed, this proposal will provide the critical immunogenicity, mechanistic and biomarker data that will position this novel biologic for human clinical trials in allergic disease. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Effective treatments to for severe allergic asthma and food allergy represent a major unmet medical need. Asthma affects 5-10% of the US population, an estimated 14-15 million persons, including 5 million children resulting in lost work and school timeof approximately 100 million days with more than 1.8 million annual US emergency department visits. The goal of this proposal is to develop and commercialize a novel human biologic capable of inhibiting acute allergic reactions as a treatment for severe allergy disease."
Lightweight Robotic Excavation,NNX11CB55C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,749956.00,"Astrobotic Technology, Inc.",PA,,Pittsburgh,PA,15213-3524,No,No,No,David Gump,Business Official,7037039616,david.gump@astrobotictech.com,David Gump,Principal Investigator,4126823282,david.gump@astrobotictech.com,"Lightweight robotic excavators address the need for machines that dig,collect, transport and dump lunar soil. Robust and productive smallrobots enable mining rich and accessible deposits of ice and othervolatiles buried near craters at the lunar poles, delivering resources toproduce propellant, and thus making space exploration sustainable.Lightweight excavators bridge the gap between prospecting and full-scaleISRU.A lightweight robot is proposed that excavates and delivers regolith withproduction so superior to the state of the art as to enable realisticlunar and planetary applications. Demonstration of light weight will beachieved by operating a low mass robot in Earth gravity reduced 5/6 byoffloading.The significance of the proposed innovation is an approach that not onlyperforms the required tasks but is low in mass (30 kg to 150 kg). Massconstraints make productive excavation challenging. However, innovativedesigns incorporating transverse bucket-wheels, high payload compositedump beds, and high-speed driving are game changers, enabling regolithoperations in low gravity. Phase 1 experimental results show that payloadratio and driving speed govern productivity of small robots.Phase 2 will elevate TRLs from 3 at the beginning to an estimated 4 or 5at end of contract."
Scalable Gravity Offload System,NNX11CC65C,NASA,NASA,STTR,2011,2,599259.00,"Astrobotic Technology, Inc.",PA,,Pittsburgh,PA,15213-3524,No,No,No,David Gump,Business Official,4126823282,david.gump@astrobotictech.com,"William "". Whittaker",Principal Investigator,4122686559,red@cmu.edu,"A scalable gravity offload device simulates reduced gravity for the testing of various surface system elements such as mobile robots, excavators, habitats, and deployables in a relevant environment. The device is capable of simulating reduced gravity over an arbitrary terrain including such features as slopes, obstacles, and varying surface concavity. The device consists of a linear movement system, a 2 degree-of-freedom manipulator, a passive force application mechanism, and a position tracking mechanism. The manipulator travels along the linear movement system and is positioned perpendicular to the linear movement system's direction of travel. The result is a rectangular working area whereby the gravity offload device can simulate reduced gravity in the area defined by the length of the linear movement system by the width (reach) of the 2 degree-of-freedom manipulator. The force application mechanism is principled upon precision maintenance of a pressure in an air cylinder. Precision regulation of supply pressure enables constant force over the throw of the air cylinder. Varying the regulator supply pressure to the air cylinder(s) modifies the force experienced by the test article and therefore enables a gravity offload device to simulate a range of gravity fields proportional to the ability to regulate pressure."
"Ading color to cancer, adenovirus and flow cytometry to identify and capture CTCs",1R43CA163436-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,289156.00,"NANOSORT, LLC",7770 REGENTS RD #113390,,SAN DIEGO,CA,-,No,No,No,Nathaniel D. Heintxman,,858-699-5230,nate@nanosort.net,Jose M. Morachis,,858-356-5965,jose@nanosort.net,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose a novel technique to identify and capture circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using engineered adenoviruses and sophisticated flow cytometry. Current techniques for detection of CTCs include reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and, more recently, microfluidics. Unfortunately, RT-PCR does not distinguish between viable metastatic CTC versus nucleic acids or cellular fragments originating fromthe primary tumor. Antibody-based techniques cannot be used for detection of all cancers, but only those cancers that express the most common and well- characterized markers. As such, there is a desperate need to develop new diagnostic agents and tools that not only detect and capture CTCs but also quantify their malignant potential and identify 'up-front' the therapies that are most effective in ablating an individual patient's tumor. Despite the complexity and variability of cancers at a genome scale, aunifying theme is their growth deregulation phenotypes, the so-called hallmarks of cancer, which are conferred by mutations in a relatively small number of key pathways. Rather than focus on detecting individual genetic lesions that are numerous and highly variable between tumors, we propose to create diagnostic viruses that incorporate multiple transcriptional and molecular modules in their genomes to infect and detect a patient's tumor, report its molecular 'hallmarks' and its response to different therapies 'up- front'. Using these agents, the molecular lesions and malignant characteristics of any given tumor will be rapidly discerned (within 24 hours) and scored via a standardized automated platform. Furthermore, these agents could also be used as reporters to determine rapidly and directly if a patient's tumor is likely to respond to a particular therapy. Our goal is to develop a standardized automated platform that provides point-of-care diagnostics to inform clinical decisions at a level of molecularsophistication and prognostic power that is not possible with any other detection system, biomarkers or correlative gene expression signatures. To achieve this, we will combine transformative new technological platforms developed at the Salk, UCSD, and NanoSort that label tumor cells in different colors based on their acquisition of molecular lesions that dictate malignant progression and response to therapy, facilitating their detection, quantification and isolation using an integrated 'lab-on a chip' flowcytometer. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: To aid in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, we will specially design adenoviruses that preferentially infect circulating tumor cells (CTCs, cells that have left a tumor and entered the bloodstream), drastically distinguishing these rare cells from the billions of blood cells found in a routine blood sample. This technology also detects the status of the cancer, giving doctors information about how aggressive or treatable a cancer might be. We combine this adenoviral system with a sophisticated new lab-on-a-chip cell-sorting device that passes the virally infected cells along microfluidic channels to be measured and sorted from the blood, and examined for characteristic hallmarks of cancer."
Lab-on-a-chip Flow Cytometer Using COlor-Space-Time (COST) Coding Method,1R43RR032225-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,697999.00,"NANOSORT, LLC",7770 REGENTS RD #113390,,SAN DIEGO,CA,-,No,No,No,Nathaniel D. Heintxman,,858-699-5230,nate@nanosort.net,Jose M. Morachis,,858-356-5965,jose@nanosort.net,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Lab-on-a-chip flow cytometer using color-space-time (CoST) coding method NanoSort, LLC RESEARCH and RELATED Other Project Information 7. PROJECT SUMMARY Fluorescence-activated-cell-sorting (FACS) or flow cytometry enables clinicians and researchers to quantitatively characterize the physical (cell size, shape, granularity) and biochemical (DNA content, cell cycle distribution, cell surface markers, and viability) properties of cels. Besides its applications in basic research (e.g. immunology, cell and molecular biology), the instrument has allowed clinicians to detect and monitor the progression of diseases such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and HIV/AIDS. With the capability of high- throughput sorting to enrich biospecimens and extract rare cell types, a state-of-the-art flow cytometer makes it possible to conduct rare-event studies such as the identification or isolation of bacterial cells, stem cells, or tumor cells. However, today's flow cytometers face two chalenges that limit the ability to drastically reduce their cost and extend their day-to-day utilization to clinical settings. The first limit is that the system's architecture is highly inefficient in utilizing the increasing number of available fluorescent colors. In today's flow cytometer design, each fluorescent color requires a dedicated PMT and optics; and the cost, complexity, and risk of failure grow with the number of detection parameters. Secondly, there exists a huge price gap (2-3X price difference) between flow cytometers (that count cells) and FACS (that count and assort cells). FACS are mostly located in shared core facilities and operated by well-trained, PhD level specialists. There is a large demand for FACS that would increase if cell sorting were to become more accessible and affordable than it is now. Based on nearly 10 years of research of Professor Lo's group at UCSD, we will develop the lab-on-a-chip technology into products that can address the above two challenges. To facilitate the transformation, we will apply our patented game-changing technologies: 1) COlor-Space-Time (COST) coding method to detect multiple parameters using a single PMT. The COST technique fundamentaly changes the relationship between the system performance and the system complexity in all existing flow cytometers. We also propose a highly efficient and cost effective on-chip piezoelectric cell sorting technique with low shearing and high cell viability. Our proposed research includes the systematic study of post-sortingcell viability for lab-on-a-chip FACS system, a limiting problem for successful commercialization that is overloked by most research laboratories. The proposed Phase I research uses innovative approaches to transform a laboratory technology into commercial products that have a market of over 1B and the potential for an expanded market following the proposed cost reductions and functionality improvements. These technology and business goals will have a direct impact on basic research and clinical applications to enhance the health and wellbeing of the entire population. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Lab-on-a-chip flow cytometer using color-space-time (CoST) coding method NanoSort, LLC RESEARCH and RELATED Other Project Information 8. PROJECT NARRATIVE The proposed project aims to develop lab-on-a-chip flow cytometers that are high performance, easy to operate and maintain, and significantly lower cost than any flow cytometers or fluorescence-activated-cell- sorters (FACS) available today, thus providingthis broadly applicable technique to new settings in research and clinical practice. The research will transform the lab-on-a-chip technologies developed in Professor Lo's laboratory into products that meet the market needs in advanced biomedical researchand point-of-care clinics. The proposed system substantially extends the original university technology with the invention of the COlor- Space-Time (COST) coding technique which allows multi-parameter detection using a single photo multiplier tube (PMT) detector."
"TAS::75 0849::TAS PHASE I, TOPIC 293, CTC LABEL AND CAPTURE BY LAB-ON-A-CHIP FLOW-CYTOMETRY",N43CO110096,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,198641.00,"NANOSORT, LLC",7770 REGENTS RD #113390,,SAN DIEGO,CA,-,No,No,No,Jose Morachis,,858-356-5965,JOSE@NANOSORT.COM,Jose Morachis,,858-356-5965,JOSE@NANOSORT.COM,"This Phase I, SBIR contract is for the development of a customized lab-on-a-chip fluorescense activated cell sorter (FACS) system that will provide on-chip antibody labeling, enumeration, and sorting of CTCs suitable for downstream molecular analysis. Theaim is to further understand cancer biology and to move closer to personalized therapy."
Reactive Rendezvous and Docking Sequencer,NNX11CB29C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599794.00,"Blue Sun Enterprise, Inc.","1942 Broadway Street, Suite 314",,Boulder,CO,80302-5233,No,No,No,Christopher A. Grasso,President,7203948897,christopher.a.grasso@earthlink.net,Christopher Grasso,Principal Investigator,7207208897,christopher.a.grasso@earthlink.net,"Mars Sample Return poses some of the most challenging operational activities of any NASA deep space mission. Rendezvous of a vehicle with a sample canister in order to return the canister to Earth requires a variety of complex mathematical processing on a changing data set, coupled with the need to safely and effectively handle a large range of off-nominal conditions and spacecraft faults. Light speed delay isolates the spacecraft from real-time operator intervention, while inertial and situational uncertainties demand reactivity not required of typical spacecraft sequencing systems. These mission features call for a new class of sequence capability: Reactive Rendezvous and Docking Sequencer (RRDS).RRDS melds the rule-based reactivity needed for rendezvous and docking with sequence characteristics common to more traditional missions. Rules watch for conditions in order to react to the current situation, allowing a wide range of complex activities and safety-related responses to be concisely represented without complex procedural programming. Responsibility for commanding elements aboard the spacecraft is divided among sequenced state machines called managers, coordinated together by a flight director which the ground commands.Underlying flight software for navigation, thruster allocation, inertial checking, attitude estimation and control, contact detection, docking mechanisms, and the like receive direction from the managers. This mediated control causes the system to reactively operate in modes with proper ordering of activities. Reactive operations are represented explicitly by states and transitions defining the managers, and do not require use of explicitly timed activities.Phase II of this SBIR will produce a Class B version of the underlaying VML 2.2 flight software capable of executing the RRDS state machines. It will also produce Class C versions of the associated VML compiler and Offline VM execution system for deployment onto flight projects."
Dynamic Phase Imaging Interference 4D Microscope System,2R44RR028170-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,999013.00,4 D TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION,3280 E. HEMISPHERE LOOP,SUITE 146,TUCSON,AZ,85706,No,No,No,James E. Millerd,,520-294-5600,james.millerd@4dtechnology.com,James E. Millerd,,520-294-5600,james.millerd@4dtechnology.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project will develop a dynamic quantitative phase-imaging interference 4D microscope system to enable creating phase image movies and quantifying motion of live cells and cellular processes in vitro using harmlesslight levels without the need for adding contrast or labeling agents. The primary use of this microscope is to study the structure and mechanics of cells, cellular processes and tissues. This interference microscope will enable looking at cellular morphology, cellular development and structures within cells and tissues over periods of time. It is intended to have a flexible design that enables options of different magnifications, resolutions, and wavelengths. The Phase II project focuses on developing a production prototype for a commercial dynamic phase imaging interference microscope system using interchangeable interference objectives and low coherence sources with fiber delivery. Polarization states will be used to differentiate object and reference beams. Technology originally developed for dynamically measuring the seeing quality of large telescopes in situ will be utilized for imaging on the microscopic level. This technology utilizes a pixilated single-shot phase-measurement camera to enable instantaneous quantitative determination of optical phase and refractive index variations in real time to create movies of dynamic motions. Goals for Phase II include 1) designing, building and testing a production prototype microscope system with multiple magnifications, 2) development of software and algorithms to display optical thickness data in real time relative to a background surface and capture bursts of data to quantify cellular motion, morphology and volume, 3) demonstrating quantitative measurements on dynamic living cells at multiple beta sites with research partners, and to obtain written user feedback for implementation in Phase III. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This dynamic quantitative phase-imaging technology implemented within an interferometricmicroscope system represents a key element in advancing the ability to rapidly image tissues, cells, and cellular components in real-time without the need for toxic contrasts agents using harmless light levels to observe cellular processes in living biological objects, and track changes among and within cells. This instrument will create dynamic 4D phase image movies of cellular events for studying in vitro cellular structure and morphology, motion, motility and mechanics."
High Power Uplink Amplifier for Deep Space Communications,NNX11CB08C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,600000.00,"Optical Engines, Inc.",CO,,Crystal Lake,CO,60012-3793,No,No,No,Donald Sipes,Business Official,8158158303,don.sipes@opticalenginesinc.com,Donald Sipes,Principal Investigator,8158158303,don.sipes@opticalenginesinc.com,"Critical to the success of delivering on the promise of deep space optical communications is the creation of a stable and reliable high power multichannel optical uplink/beacon. Optical Engines proposes to deliver in phase 2 2 compact and low cost fiber amplifiers suited to the uplink application. This will be accomplished through the use of Optical Engines proprietary Multi-Fiber Coupled 2.5kW laser diode stacks, its Etched Taper All Fiber Combiner Technology and a custom designed Photonic Crystal Fiber. One of these amplifiers will be of the Coiled PCF type and one of the Rod type and will be integrated into existing NASA deep space communications up link infrastructure."
Ultra Compact Multi kW Fiber Amplifier Platform,FA9451-11-C-0137,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,750000.00,"Optical Engines, Inc.",CO,,Crystal Lake,CO,60012-3793,No,No,No,Donald L. Sipes,President and CEO,(815) 383-8303,don.sipes@opticalenginesinc.com,Donald L. Sipes Jr,President and CEO,(815) 383-8303,don.sipes@opticalenginesinc.com,"ABSTRACT: During the phase 1 program, Optical Engines, Inc. has demonstrated the key components necessary to create an ultra compact multi kW Yb based PM PCF amplifier. These components include a 3 fiber coupled laser diode stack with an aggregate power output of over 1200 W at 976nm, an etched air taper all fiber combiner in a 6+1 to 1 configuration with 94.4% pump efficiency, over 90% core signal efficiency, 20dB PER, and has been power tested to 1.5kW. These components, along with a 40um Yb PM PCF core, 500um Air clad cladding fiber have been combined to create an all fiber amplifier of over 1kW. In the Phase 2 program these components will be combined to create a TRL 5 ready, narrow band amplifier in the multi kW range. BENEFIT: The development of a ultra compact multi kW amplifier module will have the impact of providing a common platform for defense and industrial applications allowing for economies of scale and economies of scope."
A novel use of web-based software to efficiently triage pre-surgical patients bas,4R44RR030694-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1599135.00,"MEDSLEUTH, INC.","1080 CHESTNUT ST, STE 11A",,SAN FRANCISCO,CA,94109-1207,No,No,No,Alicia G. Kalamas,,415-297-2286,gruber@mymedsleuth.com,Alicia G. Kalamas,,415-297-2286,gruber@mymedsleuth.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is a Fast-Track application to develop a web-based, patient-centered software product that accurately assesses a patient's perioperative risk as a means of improving quality of care and reducing costs. Approximately 40 million surgical procedures are performed annually in the United States [1]. To ensure the safety of patients undergoing these procedures, it is imperative to identify and mitigate perioperative risk. Unfortunately, the process used by most hospitals and surgical centers to evaluate pre-surgical patients falls short on two fronts. One is a failure to identify risk factors in a timely fashion, as most preoperative evaluations occur the day before or day of surgery. The second is a failure to properly identify risk factors due to incomplete or inaccurate preoperative evaluations. These shortcomings increase morbidity and mortality, increase healthcare cost, and lower patient satisfaction. Therefore, a standardized preoperative assessment delivered in a timely fashion is needed. To address this need, we (MedSleuth, Inc.) have developed web-based software that utilizes a patent- pending algorithm to generate a customized patient survey, based on the patient's medication profile and successive responses to the survey. The survey output takes the form of a comprehensive medical history, triages patients based on health status, and provides the patient-specific information required by healthcare providers to identify and mitigate perioperative risk. Conservatively, it is estimated 10 billion could be saved annually (~25% of total spend) through our approach, with similarly sizable improvements in quality and satisfaction. Our Phase I study will evaluate proof of concept for the first-generation software with one collaborating hospital system (Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School) over the course of a six- month period. Phase I will seek to prove (1) patients can successfully complete the web-based survey; (2) the outputgenerated by the survey is accurate, comprehensive and relevant for making informed clinical decisions; (3) our assessment algorithm is equivalent or superior to the status quo in identifying perioperative risk; (4) patients and healthcare providers reporthigh levels of satisfaction; and (5) preoperative evaluation costs can be substantially reduced. In Phase II we will incorporate patient and healthcare provider feedback from Phase I to develop the more robust second-generation version of the web-based software. We will in turn test this second- generation software on a much larger patient population across multiple surgical sites to verify clinical accuracy and completeness, cost savings, and increased satisfaction. At the conclusion of Phase II,we expect to have a market ready product with documented outcomes. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: A need exists for a system that can efficiently and effectively triage patients based on perioperative risk, thereby focusing resources on those patients with complex medical problems while improving quality and satisfaction for all. We (MedSleuth, Inc.) have developed a first-generation web-based patient- centric software product that standardizes and streamlines the way a patient's medical history is elicited and recorded. This is accomplished by applying patent-pending machine learning technology to tailor a real-time survey based on each patient's medication profile and successive responses during the survey. We hypothesize that (1) patients can successfully complete the web-based survey on their own; (2) clinicians find the output of the survey relevant, accurate, and superior to current methods for making informed clinical decisions related to the surgical procedure; (3) patients and healthcare providers report high levels of satisfaction with the survey; (4) quality of care is improved; and (5) costs are reduced."
Venous Thromboembolism Risk Marker Assay,4R44HL104885-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1048970.00,"GAMMA THERAPEUTICS, INC.","2611 SW 3RD AVE, STE 280P",,PORTLAND,OR,97201-4957,No,No,No,David F. Eastman,,503-222-2314,deastman@gamma-therapeutics.com,David H. Farrell,,503-494-8602,dfarrell@gamma-thrapeutics.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The application's broad, long-term objectives are to develop a rapid, high-throughput clinical assay for 3' fibrinogen that will be used to assess the risk of a patient developing venous thromboembolism. This assay willguide clinical management, particularly the use of long-term anticoagulant therapy for patients. The utility of this assay will be the identification of patients at risk for developing venous thromboembolism who should be anticoagulated, and conversely, identification of patients at low risk of developing venous thromboembolism who should not be subjected to the possible dangers of anticoagulant therapy. The specific aim of Phase I of this Fast-Track application is to: 1) Develop a rapid, high-throughput assay for 3' fibrinogen. This will be accomplished using our proprietary monoclonal antibody, 2.G2.H9, and the Luminex xMAP(R) technology platform. The milestones for the successful completion of Phase I and transition to Phase II are to develop a 3' fibrinogen assay that measures the normal range of 3' fibrinogen in plasma from 0-1.5 mg/ml, and achieves a standard curve fit with an R2 accuracy of gt0.95. In Phase II, the Specific Aims are to: 2) Validate the 3' fibrinogen assay. The assay will be evaluatedfor linearity, interference testing, method comparison, bias estimation, and comparison to the previous plate-based ELISA in test samples using guidelines published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) for precision performance of quantitative measurement methods. This information will be essential for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) evaluation of the assay; 3) Quantitate the intra-individual variability of 3' fibrinogen levels over time. This will be accomplished by measuring 3' fibrinogen levels in individuals at weekly time points over a 3-month period and monthly time points over a one-year period to determine the within-subject variability. This information will be critical for widespread acceptance of the assay by clinical laboratories; 4) Scale up production of the assay kit components. This will be accomplished with assistance from the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development at OHSU, which has forged ties withthe entrepreneurial and local business community to create a framework of support for the development of companies utilizing OHSU research. Their Springboard Program is designed to catalyze the development of new ventures based on OHSU technologies. We have already attracted the interest of Diagnostica Stago, a major international coagulation diagnostics company. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal is to develop a rapid, high-throughput clinical assay for 3' fibrinogen, a newly-emerging risk factor for venous thromboembolism. This assay will be used by physicians for risk assessment of venous thromboembolism, and will guide their clinical management, particularly their use of anticoagulant therapy in patients. Information gained from the use of this assay will identify patients at risk for deep vein thrombosis who should be anticoagulated, and conversely, will identify patients at low risk of venous thromboembolism who should not be subjected to anticoagulant therapy."
Mindfulness and Acceptance Applied in Colleges Through Web-Based Guided Self-Help,1R43AT006952-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,229434.00,"CONTEXTUAL CHANGE, LLC",933 GEAR ST,,RENO,NV,89503-2729,No,No,No,Emily N. Rodrigues,,775-746-2013,contextualchange@gmail.com,Michael Levin,,775-746-2013,levinm2@gmail.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Nearly half of all college students have a diagnosable mental health problem (Blanco et al., 2008). College counseling centers (CCCs) are faced with increasing demands for services from Universities, students and parents to meet the treatment needs of their students (Beamish, 2005), in the context of increasingly severe cases and declining resources (Gallagher, 2009). Innovative, cost effective solutions are needed that can improve treatment effectiveness with a range ofpresenting problems while reducing counselor workloads. The proposed project seeks to meet these needs by developing a web-based guided self-help version of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl and Wilson, 1999), an evidence-based transdiagnostic therapy that has been found to effectively treat a range of mental health problems by targeting experiential avoidance, the tendency to avoid unwanted emotions and negative thoughts (Hayes et al., 2006). An ACT program would provide a means of implementing effective treatment for the range of problems encountered in the CCC setting, while the online guided self-help format would reduce counselors' workload for each client, improving cost- effectiveness and reducing waiting lists. This product would both treat students through a series of self-help modules and train CCC counselors in how to implement the guided self-help intervention. Phase I will focus on developing two self-help modules (mindfulness and acceptance) as well as a counselor portal to review students' use of the program and to receive training on implementing ACT guided self-help. Focus groups with treatment seeking students and focused interviews with counselors will be used to better adapt program content and design for these populations. The prototype self-help and counselor portals will be evaluated in terms of usability with think aloud procedures followed by a pre-post feasibility trial with 20 counselors and 60 clients (3 student clients per CCC counselor). Phase II will expandthe program to include 12 self-help modules across the main ACT concepts: mindfulness, acceptance, defusion, noticing self, values, and committed action, with targeted content in the committed action module for specific problem areas based on initial assessment and counselor judgment. The counselor portal will be further developed to provide access to training material in relation to each module, to allow for greater interactions with and between students (e.g., addition of mobile technologies; creating a moderated forum for students) and to allow for advanced time-saving features (e.g., generating reports on student use of the program which can be filed as progress notes). These components together will provide a comprehensive self-help intervention for college students as well as a portal for counselors to monitor and support students' progress. The Phase II product will be evaluated in a randomized trial across various higher education settings, counselor expertise levels with ACT, and different program features. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: College counseling centers are expected to serve an increasingly higher number of students, presenting with increasingly more severe problems, despite a concurrent reduction in or stagnation of available resources. The proposed project seeks to improve college counseling centers' ability to effectively and efficiently treat students presenting with a range of mental health problems, while reducing counselor workloads, by developing a web-based guided self- help program. A substantial percentage of the US population is in college at some point in their lives, and improving college counseling treatment programs could have a broad public health impact."
Novel Active Combustion Control Concept for High-Frequency Modulation of Atomized Fuel Flow,NNX11CA44C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,600000.00,"Jansen's Aircraft Systems Controls, Inc.",2303 W. Alameda Drive,,Tempe,AZ,85282-3102,No,No,No,Emerson Turner,Business Official,6026024156,emerson@jasc-controls.com,Matt Caspermeyer,Principal Investigator,6028893711,matt.caspermeyer@jasc-controls.com,"This proposal by Jansen's Aircraft Systems Controls, Inc. presents an innovative solution for Active Combustion Control.Relative to the state of the art, this concept has the ability to provide frequency modulation (greater than 1000[Hz]) in combination with high amplitude modulation (in excess of 30% flow) and can be adapted to a large range of fuel injector sizes. Existing state-of-the-art valves tend to have low flow modulation strength or the size of the valves with higher flow modulation seem too large or consume too much electrical power to be practical. The proposed Active Combustion Control valve has highfrequency and amplitude modulation, consumes low electrical power, is closely coupled with the fuel injector for modulation strength, and is practical in size and weight."
SBIR Phase I: Development of a Long Life Microchannel Plate Photomultiplier Tube for High Flux Applications through the Innovative Application of Nanofilms,1046903,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149991.00,"Arradiance, Inc.",142 North Road,,Sudbury,MA,01776-1142,No,No,No,Neal T. Sullivan,MS,8889494441,nsullivan@arradiance.com,Neal T. Sullivan,,8889494441,nsullivan@arradiance.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project proposes a revolutionary approach to extending the lifetime of microchannel plate (MCP) photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) using atomic layer deposited (ALD) nanofilms to suppress the creation of damaging positive ions. The technical and intellectual merits of this proposal are noteworthy: our state-of-the-art ALD capabilities will transform mature MCP technology, creating the capability for high flux detection. Previous attempts to improve MCP-PMT capabilities in this area have resulted in reduced responsiveness and resolution. We have obtained preliminary results which have attracted the attention of major companies in the image intensifier industry, demonstrating a strong market interest should this feasibility study succeed. The major points of the research plan are i) to optimize the nanofilm properties, ii) to apply the optimized film to commercial MCPs obtained from an industrial partner, iii) to insert the modified MCPs into a special prototype device, and iv) to test this enhanced device and evaluate its performance, in conjunction with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). The assembled team is well-matched to this proposal, featuring a combination of our ALD process and materials science skills with UTA's detector development prowess, while taking advantage of excellent facilities at both institutions. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is substantial. Image intensification detection devices incorporating MCPs are currently widely used in applications where single photon counting or low light level detection are required. The impact of a device with dramatically improved lifetime ranges from enabling cutting-edge particle physics experiments with exciting discovery potential in the areas of CP violation and Higgs properties, to homeland security applications, to commercial applications such as night vision devices. The testing of the new MCP-PMTs will be carried out by undergraduate students at UTA, which has been commended as being one of the nation's top universities for Hispanic students. The students will develop expertise in fast timing, lasers, and data analysis, as well as presentation skills. This proposal thus supports the mission of the NSF to promote discoveries and advance education, while meeting the goals of the SBIR program by stimulating technological innovation and transforming scientific discovery into both social and economic benefit. It is estimated that the potential market opportunity that would be available to this technology, across all of the described technology domains, is in excess of $8 million over the next 5 years."
"Functionalized Nano-Film Microchannel Plate: A Single High Aspect Ratio Device for High Resolution, Low Noise Astronomical Imaging",NNX11CA90C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,595700.00,"Arradiance, Inc.",142 North Road,,Sudbury,MA,01776-1142,No,No,No,Ken L. Stenton,Business Official,9789788291,kstenton@arradiance.com,Neal T. Sullivan,Principal Investigator,8889494441,nsullivan@arradiance.com,"Atomic layer deposited functional nano-film technology is used to manufacture Microchannel plate (MCP) devices capable of high gain / low ion feedback operation, on glass capillary array substrates, as a means to replace MCP chevron configuration and enable direct photocathode deposition (e.g. GaN) for NASA applications. Commercial MCP devices rely on 1970's manufacturing technology, constrained by the bulk glass: heavy metal impurities limit the achievable dark noise in low signal detection, the requisite batch processing restricts flexibility to tailor individual device performance and often result in poor yield. Arradiance's proven nano-film technology has been shown in Phase I to improve the component functions of secondary electron emission and conductivity resulting in high performance MCPs. In Phase II performance optimization of these novel devices and, enabled by substrate independence, an opportunity to explore direct deposition of advanced photocathodes. Since the high quality GaN films required for efficient photoelectron transport can only be deposited at elevated temperatures (<900 C), conventional Pb-glass MCPs, with a softening point of ~400C, are not suitable. Arradiance nanofilms allow high temperature MCP substrates (e.g. quartz or anodized alumina - AAO) and the opportunity for significant detection efficiency improvement. TRL 4 at beginning; TRL 6 at end."
Efficient manufacture of extreme surface area Microchannel plate devices functionalized by atomic layer deposition thin films,DE-FG02-10ER85784,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,990920.00,"Arradiance, Inc.",142 North Road,,Sudbury,MA,01776-1142,No,No,No,Kenneth Stenton,Mr.,9783698291,kstenton@arradiance.com,Neal Sullivan,Mr.,,nsullivan@arradiance.com,"The work proposed in this SBIR proposal is is synergistic with the, DOE funded, basic R & amp;D effort of a consortium of national laboratories, universities, and industry, led by Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago for the development of new, large area, photodetector devices. This project proposes to address the commercialization gap that exists between the proofofprinciple large area photodetector (LAPD) program and the efficient manufacture of large area Microchannel plate (MCP) devices using atomic layer deposition (ALD). For programs such as the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) project and other applications in high energy physics, medical discovery and diagnostics and homeland security applications this will be transformational. Arradiance, as the key commercial ALD contributor to the Argonne LAPD collaboration, has developed nanofilm based MCP devices that exceed commercial microchannel plate (MCP) performance, for the small test samples that mimic the LAPD MCP device. In Phase I, Arradiance was able to demonstrate the feasibility of producing the large area LAPD MCP device through an innovative set of surface area experiments that simulated the LAPD MCP device using existing ALD process equipment. The MCPs produced in this experiment performed identically to MCPs produced in small batch environments. Arradiance has also developed a conceptual large area ALD system design that has improved upon many of the gaps in the existing, small sample process equipment. Phase II will enable Arradiance to fully produce and provide to the Argonne collaboration the large area LAPD MCP for process development and device optimization. Phase II will also afford Arradiance the opportunity to optimize the process and equipment to support economical LAPD MCP production for applications in high energy physics. The techniques, developed in this proposal required for largescale commercial ALD production of the LAPD a family of largearea robust detectors with the capability to be tailored for a wide variety of applications for which largearea economical photon detection will be transformational. Success of this program has the potential to impact many other applications where ALD is used to coat extremely high surface area materials in technology areas such as: catalysis, fuel cell, energy storage and filtration."
Biased Agonism In GPCR Drug Discovery: Application To Somatostatin Agonists,1R43DK088501-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,282070.00,"CRINETICS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.",1428 Caudor St.,,Leucadia,CA,92024-,No,No,No,R. S. Struthers,,858-866-9272,admin@crinetics.com,Richard S. Struthers,,858-450-6464,sstruthers@crinetics.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Analogs of the neuropeptide somatostatin are important therapeutics for the treatment of hormone secreting tumors with annual sales in excess of 1.3B. However, currently available peptide depots are only effective in approximately half the patients with growth hormone secreting tumors and patients with carcinoid tumors rapidly become resistant to the drug. These agents act by stimulating a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) sst2A to activate Gi, but they also cause desensitization and internalization of the receptor resulting in reduced responsiveness. We hypothesize that biased agonists of somatostatin receptor that maintain strong Gi activation but do not induce internalization or desensitization would normalize hormonelevels in a greater percentage of patients and in patients not adequately controlled by currently available agents. Here we propose to test this hypothesis by using assays for receptor internalization and site-specific phosphorylation to guide medicinal chemistry optimization of nonpeptide orally active somatostatin biased agonists with the goal of providing improved therapeutic options for many patients with these tumors. This approach is premised on our recent observations that the nonpeptide L-779,976 is a biased somatostatin receptor agonist with strong Gi activation, but more rapid release of recruited 2-arrestin and reduced loss of cell surface receptor compared to peptide agonists. In Phase I we propose to extend this pharmacologic characterization to a diverse panel of nonpeptide somatostatin agonists with the goal of demonstrating feasibility of the assays to support medicinal chemistry and prioritizing lead chemical series for subsequent optimization of both pharmacologic and pharmaceutical properties in Phase II. This will include rigorous measurement of their intrinsic efficacy and ability to induce receptor desensitization-- fundamental pharmacologic data that is surprisingly lacking in the literature for this important class of therapeutics. Theproduct resulting from the Phase II efforts will be a novel orally available compound (or compounds) ready for preclinical toxicology studies in preparation to begin clinical development. In addition to improved clinical efficacy such oral agents would also reduce the need for physician office visits, eliminate the pain and discomfort of depot injections, and lower manufacturing costs compared to expensive peptide depot formulations. Beyond the creation of a novel therapeutic agent, this approach is innovative in the prospective use of receptor regulatory assays to guide early medicinal chemistry efforts, rather than the retrospective analysis of one or two compounds that have already succeeded in the clinic. GPCRs share many common regulatory and signalingmechanisms and are both the largest gene family in the human genome and a rich source of proven targets for drug discovery. Therefore, if successful, the impact of this work not only be to provide improved agents for patients with hormone secreting tumors, but it will also exemplify a novel and general strategy for optimizing agonist drugs targeting other GPCRs. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project uses assays for receptor internalization, site specific phosphorylation, desensitization and intrinsic efficacy to guide design and synthesis of novel orally available biased agonists of the somatostatin receptor sst2A with improved efficacy and reduced desensitization for the treatment of hormone secreting tumors. If successful, this work would provide ageneral strategy for agonist optimization of many additional GPCR drug targets."
Prevention of Allergic Rhinitis with Topical Immunomodulating Antibodies,1R41AI093032-01A1,HHS,HHS,STTR,2011,1,300000.00,"RADIX THERAPEUTICS, LLC",1125 TALLOW DR,,DICKINSON,TX,-,No,No,No,Darrell H. Carney,,281-352-5247,dcarney@radixthx.com,Randall M. Goldblum,,409-772-1750,rmgoldbl@utmb.edu,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Up to 30% of the US population are now affected by nasal allergy, resulting in a total (direct and indirect) cost of approximately 14.6 billion per year. Seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR), due to exposure to airborne pollen and molds is a major component of this problem in the US and worldwide. The limitations of current pharmaceutical and specific immunotherapy for AR include their side-effects and the time, effort and cost associated with their use. The goal of this Phase I project is to explore an entirely new paradigm for preventing seasonal AR, employing an antibody-based, nasal prophylactic to be used only when patients know they will be exposed to large quantities of specific allergens. This project builds upon ourNIAID-funded experimental model system of mountain cedar allergy. Using this model, we discovered that ~90% of patients' IgE against mountain cedar pollen binds to conformational epitopes of a single allergen Jun a 1 and that a unique monoclonal antibody (E58) causes extensive loss of these conformation epitopes on Jun a 1. Further, the binding of E58 extensively reduces of the release of allergic mediators from mast cells sensitized with human IgE and challenged with Jun a 1. We have therefore developed amultidisciplinary, academic-corporate team of clinical and basic investigators with expertise to determine the feasibility of developing E58 as a novel therapeutic to benefit seasonal pollinosis sufferers. This project is within an NIAID STTR Area of Interest. The goal of this Phase 1 Project is to determine whether nasal instillation of bioengineered, recombinant E58 (rE58) will prevent the acute nasal airway obstruction and other signs of allergic inflammation. The Specific Aims are to: 1) Complete the optimization of a recombinant E58 antibody (rE58) for enhanced avidity and expression level and down-modulatory activity on Jun a1 reactivity and express rE58 as a univalent, partially humanized antibody. 2) Test in our mouse model of cedar pollinosis the efficacy of intranasal instillations of varying doses of rE58 antibody in preventing or substantially reducing the allergic response to subsequent nasal exposure of mountain cedar pollen. Positive Phase I results will provide proof of concept that nasal instillation of optimized antibodies can provide an effective barrier between an inhaled allergen and patient's IgE antibodies in the nasal mucosa. Further, these results will lay the ground work for Phase II studies, in which we will; a) produce and testpotential commercial formulations and methods of delivery of rE58 antibody to optimize rapid onset and prolonged duration of the effect; b) validate efficacy and safety studies in GLP compliant facilities; and c) initiate FDA discussions and submission ofan IND application to initiate clinical trials. The ultimate success of this product may lead to similar anti-allergen based therapeutics for other causes of seasonal AR. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Allergic rhinitis (AR) has become one of the most commonchronic diseases in industrialized countries, yet despite the billions of dollars spent each year on therapeutics, many symptoms are not fully relieved. We have discovered that a specific monoclonal antibody rE58 reduces allergen-IgE interactions and propose that instillation of this antibody to the nasal mucosa may prevent seasonal pollinosis-induced AR. This project will test the feasibility of this new paradigm for treating seasonal nasal allergy and if successful may lead to a new class of anti-allergyantibody drugs."
TAS::75 0849::TAS,N43CO110035,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,199757.00,"RADIX THERAPEUTICS, LLC",1125 TALLOW DR,,DICKINSON,TX,-,No,No,No,Barbara Olszewska-pazdrak,,281-352-5249,BPAZDRAK@RADIXTHX.COM,Barbara Olszewska-pazdrak,,281-352-5249,BPAZDRAK@RADIXTHX.COM,"Over 60% of cancer patients are treated with radiotherapy, yet radiation-induced normal tissue damage can cause organ dysfunction and morbidity. Radiotherapy of CNS tumors is problematic due to potential for diminished neurological function or mental retardation. Our proprietary thrombin-derived TP508 peptide mitigates effects of whole-body nuclear radiation in mice, protecting endothelium, delaying bacteremia, and restoring normal wound healing. TP508 has shown positive results in diabetic foot ulcer and fracture repair trials without adverse effects. Therefore, it has reduced regulatory risk and potential for accelerated development. Our long-term objective is to mitigate radiation effects on brain tissue without protecting cancer cells. Project experiments will determine: 1) the optimal dose and timeline for vascular protection; 2) whether TP508 protects brain tissue from radiotherapy damage using intravital microscopy, MRI, and immunohistochemistry; and 3) whether TP508 protection is selective for normaltissue without altering radiation killing of cancer cells using in vitro assays and cancer cell injection into nude mouse brains. Using noninvasive imaging techniques for these early studies adds technological innovation and helps to define future clinicaltrial endpoints. With successful project completion, we will meet with the FDA and proceed with critical Phase 2 IND-GLP experiments needed to initiate clinical trials."
DBillScan: A Camera Phone Based Currency Reader for the Visually Impaired,1R43EY021695-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,153764.00,"LIMAGING, LLC",12009 DISTANT THUNDER TRL,,CLARKSVILLE,MD,21029-1690,No,No,No,Huiping Li,,301-728-0694,huiping.li@limaging.net,Huiping Li,,301-728-0694,huipingli@limaging.net,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): For this SBIR Limaging, LLC teams with researchers in Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University to develop DBillScan, a camera phone based currency reader to identify U.S. dollar bills for the blind and visual impaired (VI). In many countries the currency is printed on different sizes of paper or with different tactile mars for people with visual disabilities to touch and recognize. However, these features are not provided in U.S. dollar bills. Although currency reading products such as slide-in note readers or even camera phone based solution exist, the user either needs extra devices, the devices are not portable, they are slow to use, or are not user-friendly for the person who is blind. Wepropose to develop a solution that empowers the blind user to identify bills with a low cost, lightweight and portable currency. The DBillScan is innovative and unique because our mobile software can read a bill in scanning mode even when parts of the billare invisible. Specifically, it can provide the following: 1) convenience and ease of use for the blind and vision-impaired community to operate 2) feature an algorithm that will be light weight with a reasonable battery/charge life 3) read a dollar billand determine its denomination in less than ten seconds 4) provide a misread rate no greater than one in a hundred 5) allows for upgrades of future currency designs 6) have a robust design that can read current, circulating currency in a wide range of physical conditions 7) be used in a wide platform of mobile devices PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: In many countries the currency is printed on different sizes of paper or with different tactile mars for people with visual disabilities to touch and recognize.However, these features are not provided in U.S. dollar bills, and notes with different face values can only be distinguished visually For this reason the blind community initiated a law suit against the U.S. Treasury Department, and the federal appeals court ruled The U.S. Treasury Department discriminates because it has failed to design and issue paper currency that is readily distinguishable by people who are blind . Acknowledging that litigation may eventually resolve the situation by requiring changes in the engraving and printing process, we propose to develop an immediate solution that empowers the blind user to identify bills with a low cost, lightweight and portable currency. Although currency reading products such as slide-in note readers or evencamera phone based solution exist, the user either needs extra devices, the devices are not portable, they are slow to use, or are not user-friendly for the person who is blind."
"TAS::75 0894::TAS SBIR PHASE II (PHS 2008-1,TOPIC 33 ) LIMAGING, LLC",N44HD100012,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,499799.00,"LIMAGING, LLC",12009 DISTANT THUNDER TRL,,CLARKSVILLE,MD,21029-1690,No,No,No,Huiping Li,,301-728-0694,HUIPING.LI@GMAIL.COM,Huiping Li,,301-728-0694,HUIPING.LI@GMAIL.COM,"Under Phase I of the project (SBIR PHS 2008-1, ""Development of Methodology for Measuring and Enhancing Compliance for Medications, Topic 33), the MobileMedMinder was successfully demonstrated. Phase II will involve collaboration to develop and commercialize the MobileMedMinder. This product will allow users to enroll and verify medication intake using the existing mobile devices, and link seemlessly to web through wireless. MobileMedMinder will provide the following: 1) automatic or simi-automatic entryof medication information through Medscanning, electronic pick lists, voice recognition. 2) Real-time communication with an on-line server where medication can be monitored and recommendations made from automated systems, caregivers or physicians directlyor through social networking solutions. 3) If successful, MobileMedMinder can be extended as a mobile platform for chronic disease management system, such as diabetes, depression, hypertension, etc. A user-centered usability testing and subject study atthe Ohio State University Medical Center managed by collaborator, Robert M. Guthrie, M.D., is planned to provide a comprehensive, non-intrusive, portable solution in support of medication compliance. The ultimate goal is to develop a product for use by patients on a mobile/web platform to promote medication compliance and behavior change that can be subsequently commercialized."
Integrated Target Characterization Suite Using Multi-Sensor Fusion,HQ0147-11-C-7540,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"ExoAnalytic Solutions, Inc",20532 El Toro Rd Ste 303,,Mission Viejo,CA,-,No,No,No,Holly Bertrand,Chief Operating Officer,(949) 716-4290,bertrand@exoanalytic.com,Douglas Hendrix,Chief Physicist,(949) 716-4290,hendrix@exoanalytic.com,"MDA plans to use optical platforms, such as PTSS, ABIR, and SM-3, to track ballistic missiles in support of ascent phase intercepts. For success, there are a number of system level challenges that the C2BMC element must overcome. A few of these are: 1) achieve and maintain stereo tracks, 2) perform lethal object discrimination, 3) prioritize and assign lethal targets to interceptors, and 4) handover lethal object information to the interceptor in a form that will allow it to identify the lethal object on its focal plane. The objective of this proposed effort is to: 1) use SysTRAAK, ExoAnalytic""s BMDS end-to-end simulation, to demonstrate these challenges on MDA""s ability to close the fire control loop in a complex ascent phase scene and ultimately intercept the lethal payloads, 2) develop algorithms to meet these challenges, drawing upon our base of existing TRL 2-6 algorithms developed during MDA/DV funded efforts over the past 10 years, and 3) deliver the algorithms to MDA for insertion into the C2BMC element. This proposal will investigate using radiometric information to enhance the probability of correct handover with demonstrations focused on ascent phase intercept."
Multi-Spectral Countermeasure and Debris Identification and Mitigation Algorithm Suite,HQ0147-11-C-7717,DOD,MDA,SBIR,2011,2,1999957.00,"ExoAnalytic Solutions, Inc",20532 El Toro Rd Ste 303,,Mission Viejo,CA,-,No,No,No,Holly Bertrand,Chief Operating Officer,(949) 716-4290,bertrand@exoanalytic.com,Douglas Hendrix,Chief Scientist,(949) 716-4290,hendrix@exoanalytic.com,"Objects tracked by optical sensors in ascent phase and midcourse are frequently obscured on the focal plane by closely spaced objects, countermeasures and debris (or clutter) that affect the performance of discrimination and tracking algorithms. Problems include missed detections, false alarms, corrupted signatures and masking of pixels that contain lethal objects. The objective of the proposed effort is to develop a focal plane clutter identification and mitigation algorithm suite that can execute on-board the ABIR, PTSS and SM-3 platforms. The suite uses multiple band focal plane data to identify regions of interest that contain clutter via characterization of the surface material properties found on the focal plane. Once identified, regions are processed by generating image maps that are manipulated to reject""hot""clutter thereby enhancing signatures of relatively""cool""targets of interest. The suite then leverages the CCIR3.1 closely spaced object (CSO) algorithm to provide target detections. This phase II effort will focus on maturation, testing and integration of the algorithm suite into the SM-3 Block IIA testbed, laying the groundwork for a successful phase III transition."
SysTRAAK Multiple Hypothesis Track Correlation,HQ0147-11-C-7718,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,1000000.00,"ExoAnalytic Solutions, Inc",20532 El Toro Rd Ste 303,,Mission Viejo,CA,-,No,No,No,Holly Bertrand,Chief Operating Officer,(949) 716-4290,bertrand@exoanalytic.com,Michael Bantel,Chief Scientist,(949) 716-4290,bantel@exoanalytic.com,"The ExoMHT association algorithm is an innovative Multiple Hypotheses Tracker which operates in real-time for large numbers of boosting, maneuvering, and deploying targets. During Phase I, ExoAnalytic Solutions developed the ExoMHT association algorithm into a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 algorithm, incorporated this algorithm into a system-level simulation called SysTRAAK, and demonstrated performance. The ExoMHT association algorithm successfully ran in real-time on a large MDA raid scenario containing 78 missiles. During Phase II, ExoAnalytic Solutions will mature the ExoMHT association algorithm into a TRL 6 algorithm, which will be ready for insertion into various MDA program elements during Phase III. Improvements to the ExoMHT association algorithm during Phase II will include adding a sensor bias correction capability, structuring the code to take advantage of multiple processors, upgrading the algorithm to utilize feature-aided track correlation inputs, and other upgrades based on extensive testing and MDA element feedback. The ExoMHT association algorithm performance will be characterized against raid scenarios of interest for a variety of IR sensor platforms. Promoting, adapting, and documenting the ExoMHT association algorithm in preparation for Phase III will also be a focus of this proposed effort."
SBIR Phase I: Game-enhanced Interactive Physical Science,1046229,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149182.00,"Filament Games, LLC",2010 Eastwood Drive,Suite 104,Madison,WI,53704-5387,No,No,No,Daniel N. White,MSEd,6082510477,white@filamentgames.com,Daniel N. White,,6082510477,white@filamentgames.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will enhance learning gains among historically underachieving middle school students via a Physical Science game that aligns with a standards-based print curriculum and utilizes principles from the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. Eleven million students, including those with reading deficiencies, disabilities, and English Language Learners, are struggling to make adequate progress toward national science standards. The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress report indicated that 73% of eighth grade students with disabilities and 85% of English language learners performed at the ?below basic? level in science, compared to 38% of their peers. Traditional curricular materials are largely text-based; built on complex vocabulary and abstract theoretical concepts that are largely inaccessible to students with special needs. Game-enhanced Interactive Physical Science (GIPS) addresses this problem. The project?s long-range purpose is to develop a new generation of innovative, research-based video games that are specifically designed to enhance science learning and assessment outcomes among students who struggle with traditional print curricular materials. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to develop innovative learning technology that responds to the growing needs of a large community of underserved and disadvantaged American students. The project does this by recognizing and addressing the need for strategically-placed and research-based computer games that are also accessible, usable, affordable, engaging, and effective. The educational video game market is in its infancy, and represents a high-risk, high-reward opportunity. The potential market of 22.9 million parents and teachers is significant, but the small number of existing commercial games have largely failed due to high technical requirements, superficial learning outcomes, or both. In contrast, GIPS will be easy to access, simple to use, and cost-effective. It will have low technical requirements and be playable online via a web browser, making it ideal for use in public schools and homes across the country. GIPS will be designed first and foremost to teach specific learning objectives that reflect critical science concepts. By targeting middle school, GIPS will engage students at a time when they typically withdraw in science. Ultimately, GIPS is the first step toward the creation of a complete line of middle school science games that directly align with national science benchmarks. Lessons learned from this Phase I award will be applied during Phase II, when a yearlong physics curriculum will be developed and commercialized."
High Energy Density Lithium Air Batteries for Oxygen Concentrators,NNX11CE38P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99970.00,Bettergy Corp.,"8 John Walsh Blvd., Suite 321",,Peekskill,NY,10566-5330,No,No,No,Lin-Feng Li,Business Official,9142906293,crotonbusiness99@gmail.com,Lin-Feng Li,Principal Investigator,9142906293,crotonbusiness99@gmail.com,"For NASA's Exploration Medical Capabilities mission, extremely high specific energy power sources, with specific energy over 2000 Wh/kg, are urgently sought after. Such battery can be used to power the mobile oxygen concentrators. Current primary lithium batteries, such as Li/SO2 system, Li/CFx system, and fuel cells, have limited specific energy to around 500 Wh/kg. Lithium air cell has over 11500 Wh/kg theoretical specific energy, so it holds the great potential to realize such challenging goals. However, the state-of-the-art lithium air battery development has encountered several technical difficulties, including air cathode performance, air management and cell packaging preventDriven by the strong market pull for this technology, Bettergy has conducted preliminary investigation into solutions to those problems. Based on our extensive experience in the field of metal air technology, we have come up with several innovative solutions. Initial results are very promising. With the support of this SBIR program, we will further implement and test our unique concepts in order to realize the full potential of the lithium air system."
A Novel Composite Membrane for High Temperature Hydrogen Separation,DE-FG02-11ER90172,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,1,149886.00,Bettergy Corp.,"8 John Walsh Blvd., Suite 321",,Peekskill,NY,10566-5330,No,No,No,Lin-Feng Li,Dr.,914-290-6293,crotonbusiness99@gmail.com,Zhong Tang,Dr.,914-290-6293,ztang08@gmail.com,"Increased use of hydrogen as a fuel can provide benefits to our nations energy security, the environment and economic growth. Toward hydrogen economy, an innovation in hydrogen separation technology is needed in the production of hydrogen. Current separation technologies for industrial hydrogen production mainly include pressure swing adsorption process and the cryogenic separation process, which are complicated and energy intensive. Membrane separation in hydrogen production and purification holds the substantial key to the economic viability of our national hydrogen energy systems because of low energy consumption, possibility for continuous operation, its ease of operation, and ultimately cost effectiveness. A novel, robust, high temperature hydrogen separation membrane with high H2 selectivity and permeability, excellent hydrothermal and chemical stability, and excellent durability in the harsh operating conditions will be developed in this program. The composite membrane can be combined with water-gas shift (WGS) reaction in a membrane reactor system.Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: In short term, this novel hydrogen separation technology can be used for industrial hydrogen separation to produce high purity hydrogen gas. It can also be used to treat the flue gas from various chemical processes, such as ammonia synthesis, to recapture the hydrogen. Once fully developed, such membrane could be combined with WGS reaction as one of the key components in coal gasification and steam reforming processes, producing hydrogen and other high-value chemicals with near zero emissions. The membrane reactor for WGS reaction may thus lead to substantial simplifications of the process and reduction of energy consumption for H2 production. Clearly, a novel, robust, high selective and flux, high temperature membrane separation technology will provide tremendous economical, environmental benefits for the general public."
HIGH PERFORMANCE HYDROXYL EXCHANGE MEMBRANE (HEM) FOR ALKALINE FUEL CELL APPLICATIONS,N00014-11-M-0093,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99861.00,Bettergy Corp.,"8 John Walsh Blvd., Suite 321",,Peekskill,NY,10566-5330,No,No,No,Lin-Feng Li,President and CTO,(914) 290-6293,crotonbusiness99@gmail.com,Lin-Feng Li,President and CTO,(914) 290-6293,crotonbusiness99@gmail.com,"The Millitary has a strong need for very high-energy density (>1000 WH/kg), light weight power sources for communications and other advanced electronic devices The possible solution is replacing the battery with proton exchange membrane (PEM) based hydrogen fuel cell. However, hydrogen storage and handling is a problem. Direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) with a PEM is a quite attractive alternative. However, due to slow reduction and oxidation kinetics in the acidic media and fuel crossover issue, those systems have not reached their full potentials. It is well known that electrochemical oxidation of fuel and electrochemical reductions of oxygen are kinetically more favorable in an alkaline media at low temperature (T<100oC). Furthermore, alkaline electrolyte offers the best prospects for using non-noble metal as the catalyst. Recent reports showed promising results for alkaline fuel cell based on hydroxyl exchange membrane (HEM). However, due to limited availability and low performance of such membranes, a lot of development work is still urgently needed in order to pave the way for developing high energy density AFCs. Driven by the strong market pull, we invented a novel HEM, which promised to have the following advantages, 1) high ionic conductivity; 2) excellent thermal stability; 3) much better chemical and electrochemical stability; 4) low cost and 5) excellent manufacturability. Therefore, this innovative HEM can meet the stringent requirements as the membrane material for both AFC and direct ethanol AFC applications."
Treatment of mTBI Balance Dysfuntion via Multimodal Biofeedback.,W81XWH-10-C-0184,DOD,DHP,SBIR,2011,2,749636.00,BalanceSense LLC,312 Acadia Lane,,Celebration,FL,34747-5001,Yes,No,No,Karen L. Atkins,Pres/CEO,(407) 625-9680,atkins.balancesense@gmail.com,Karen L. Atkins,Research Scientist,(407) 625-9680,atkins.balancesense@gmail.com,"Multimodal Sensory Enrichment Device (SEMD) is a medical device system for the testing and training of static and dynamic postural control of sway in patients with dizziness, balance deficit, and/or movement disorders. SEMD provides vibrotactile, visual, and audio cueing referenced to center of pressure for postural control of small and large movement tasks, limited locomotion, dual tasking, and spatial orientation within a hierarchy of skill set protocols. Successful Phase I outcomes provide the basis for SEMD Phase II parallel military and clinical population clinical trials. Results from the clinical trials will: 1) standardize postural sway assessment tests, 2) develop multimodal treatment protocols, 3) establish SEMD efficacy in both military mTBI populations, and civilian populations that fall. Clinical trial results will 1) help refine the in-clinical device model software, 2) determine design specifications for the in-home exercise model, 3) establish regulatory pathways, 4) deliver manufacturing specifications, and 5) will guide the devices into Phase III commercialization."
Coherent Laser Radar Metrology System for Large Scale Optical Systems,NNX11CA99C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599770.00,Pyxisvision Incorporated,9801 Nugget Court,,Bristow,VA,20136-2430,No,No,No,Anthony Slotwinski,President,7037035901,tony.slotwinski@pyxisvision.com,Anthony Slotwinski,Principal Investigator,7037035901,tony.slotwinski@pyxisvision.com,"A new type of laser radar metrology inspection system is proposed that incorporates a novel, dual laser coherent detection scheme capable of eliminating both environmental and scanner based Doppler ranging error. Measurement of large telescope structures and optics requires both high accuracy and non-contact technology. Due to the non-contact, stand-off nature of this technology, this system can measure optics and provide nearly real-time feedback to figuring/polishing instruments without removing the part from the spindle or other optical grinding or polishing setup. For advanced levels of integration and test, the proposed large-volume metrology technology would allow fast, non-contact measurement of mirror rigid body alignment and prescription (i.e., radius, conic, aperture), with no special targets or references on the optic. This would allow these mirror parameters to be measured with respect to other optics, instruments, or mechanical- and spacecraft-related structures."
Three-Dimensional Backscatter X-Ray Imaging System,NNX11CC68C,NASA,NASA,STTR,2011,2,599383.00,ARIBEX,744 S 400 East,,Orem,UT,84097-,No,No,No,Cindy Dayton,Administrative Manager,8012265522,cdayton@aribex.com,Clark Turner,Principal Investigator,8012265522,cturner@aribex.com,"The NASA application requires a system that can generate 3D images of non-metallic material when access is limited to one side of the material. The objective of this proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility of developing and build a new, practical, potentially portable, battery operated, self-contained Compton x-ray backscatter 3D imaging system by using a specially designed automated rotationally movable x-ray source, a 2D x-ray detector with a highly collimator system and the development of a suitable 3D processing computer model. In the proposed x-ray imaging system, the primary technical advance will be to extend methods that normally supply a 2D projected image through a sheet of material, to a 3D image with more complicated features at different depths, such as voids, cracks, corrosion or delaminations. The portability of the proposed imaging system will allow bringing it to the object to be imaged. Phase 2 will be conducted with a focus on technology transition and an understanding of what it will take to demonstrate and qualify the proposed method in a prototype for use in an actual imaging system and a realistic environment. Also in Phase II, time reduction in setup, data image acquisition, and 3D-image reconstruction analysis will be realized by remote automated control of the operation and movement of a brighter x-ray source and a state-of-the-art digital flat panel detector in conjunction with a highly collimator system."
Novel Power System for Extended Endurance of Air Launched SUAS,H92222-11-P-0049,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99869.00,"INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR SYSTEMS, INC.",4970 CORPORATE DR STE 100,,HUNTSVILLE,AL,35805-6230,No,No,No,Glenn Rolader,President and CEO,(770) 344-9057,glenn.rolader@is4s.com,Charles DePlachett,Principal Engineer,(256) 468-0586,charles.deplachett@is4s.com,"Tactical requirements for small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) are exceeding current capabilities in performance, reliability, maintainability, and supportability. Mission requirements such as endurance, power, acoustics and low altitude maneuverability and observability for air-launched SUAS are paramount. State of the art technology for Joint UAS Group 1 provides approximately 25-60 minutes of endurance with conventional lithium ion batteries. The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has published endurance and cost goals, concept of operation, and environmental considerations for Group 1 air-launched SUAS. AFSOC highlights the need for increased endurance of at least four hours, despite operational and environmental challenges. The focus of this SBIR is to develop and demonstrate a novel power system integrated in an air-launched SUAS that provides additional power, meets the four hour endurance goal, and meets the environmental challenges. The expected result combines an ultra-compact, heavy-fuel-compliant turboalternator with integrally coupled generator and the accompanying fuel system, controls, power conditioning electronics and battery charging circuitry for an efficient and reliable power system that greatly increases the soldier""s operational and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability. The IS4S team brings together a highly qualified team with diverse knowledge and experience in SUAS, turbine-based systems, power systems and controls."
Weapon Payloads for Bulk Chemical and Biological Agent Neutralization,HDTRA1-12-C-0013,DOD,DTRA,SBIR,2011,2,748491.00,"INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS FOR SYSTEMS, INC.",4970 CORPORATE DR STE 100,,HUNTSVILLE,AL,35805-6230,No,No,No,Glenn Rolader,president and ceo,(770) 344-9057,glenn.rolader@is4s.com,Glenn Rolader,president and ceo,(770) 344-9057,glenn.rolader@is4s.com,"Current offensive solutions to neutralize chem/bio agent facilities rely on blast and/or short-burst high-temperature neutralization but have the potential to produce severe collateral damage via agent release. Our team proposes the Dispersed Energetics Coupled for Optimized Neutralization (DECON) Concept, an alternative concept to perform bulk neutralization of agents. The DECON concept can be summarized as the generation and dispersal of a mass of controlled burning, but not flaming, material dispersed throughout the target. While conventional weapons dump energy into the entire target very quickly, our concept would distribute energy generating material throughout the target that would adhere to agent storage containers. By coupling directly to containers, the energy transferred to the container is maximized. As the materials will burn at temperatures below container melting points and over the order of minutes, long term heating and neutralization of the bulk agent may be realized. The Phase II effort will develop the DECON Concept from feasibility to a militarily and commercially viable system. Our team will perform modeling and experimentation on energy transfer into agent stimulants, characterize long term neutralization properties of agents and stimulants, and execute the necessary experiments and trade studies to optimize the DECON Concept and prepare for a rapid transition into a Phase III program."
SBIR Phase I: Microwave Heating of Reaction-Bonded Silicon Carbide Ceramics,1113635,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,"Ceralink, Inc.",105 Jordan Road,,Troy,NY,12180-8376,Yes,No,No,Shawn M. Allan,,5182837733,shawn@ceralink.com,Shawn M. Allan,,5182837733,shawn@ceralink.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the need for lower cost ceramic materials, specifically for reaction-bonded silicon carbide (RBSC) products. RBSC is used in a multitude of applications ranging from kiln furniture to body armor inserts to ultra-high purity semiconductor components. Lowering costs would make ceramic materials available for more wide-spread use. Currently, these products are limited in applications due to the high costs associated with expensive raw materials and high-temperature processing requirements. This project addresses these issues though the use of low cost preform materials and an innovative thermal processing technique. In prior work, a new method for producing RBSC was developed, through liquid infiltration of molten silicon by direct microwave heating. This innovative process allows for complete infiltration of porous preforms using microwaves, without the need for a high vacuum environment. However, one of the persistent technical issues is the formation of undesirable silicon veins in the RBSC. This may be caused by in part by a significant exothermic reaction during the infiltration. The veins can detrimentally affect the physical properties of the final RBSC. The anticipated technical results of this work are to identify the origin of silicon vein formation, and to develop methods to mitigate this issue. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to lower the cost of RBSC ceramics, making them more economically viable in current applications, and increasing their use in previously unfeasible applications where RBSC could provide superior performance characteristics. The successful development of low-cost, higher strength, and higher purity RSBC would provide significant benefits to ceramic component manufacturers and end users. Some of the current applications for RBSC include kiln furniture and various burner parts for combustion. Areas targeted for expanded use are: wear resistant components (e.g., slip ring seals), body armor for soldiers, sand blasting nozzles, and diffusion components for the semiconductor industry. The semiconductor industry is of particular interest. As devices continue to get smaller, the purity of diffusion components is becoming a critical issue. The use of this RBSC for high-purity wafer carriers would be advantageous, as preforms in the green state can be heated and purified. Finally, this work will enhance scientific and technological understanding of high temperature exothermic reactions, explore methods to control exothermic rates of reaction, and quantify the energy benefit of microwave processing versus conventional methods."
Microwave Processed Multifunctional Polymer Matrix Composites,NNX11CH47P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99984.00,"Ceralink, Inc.",105 Jordan Road,,Troy,NY,12180-8376,Yes,No,No,Patricia Strickland,Business Official,5182837733,patricia@ceralink.com,Holly S. Shulman,Principal Investigator,5182837733,holly@ceralink.com,"NASA has identified polymer matrix composites (PMCs) as a critical need for launch and in-space vehicles, but the significant costs of such materials limits their use. This proposal addresses the need for lower cost PMCs through the development of discontinuous fiber reinforced polymer composites with an in-situ grown carbon nanotube 3-D network that will translate to less expensive components with properties approaching those of continuous fiber reinforced polymers. The use of microwave processing will further reduce costs and improve the properties such that the Phase I and 2 efforts could lead to the implementation of these composites for a multitude of applications for which they are currently deemed too expensive. Ceralink will team with Florida International University, who will perform the in-situ growth of carbon nanotubes, and HITCO Carbon Composites, who will evaluate the developed materials and provide an assessment of technical and commercial viability. It is anticipated that a technology readiness level of 4 will be achieved by the end of the Phase I program."
GaN Bulk Growth and Epitaxy from Ca-Ga-N Solutions,NNX11CB12C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,600000.00,"The IIIAN Company, LLC","2700 East 28th Street, Suite 120",,Minneapolis,MN,55406-1575,No,No,No,Jody Klaassen,Business Official,6126121249,jklaassen@alum.mit.edu,Jody Klaassen,Principal Investigator,6126121249,jklaassen@alum.mit.edu,"The innovations proposed here are Ka-band (38 GHz) group III-nitride power FETs and the dislocation density reducing epitaxial growth methods (LPE) needed for their optimal performance and reliability.Ka-band power transistors with >60% Power Added Efficiency (PAE) are not commercially available. The primary limitations to their manufacture are lack of mature process technology at major GaN foundries for sib-100nm lithography necessary for gate definition, and the difficulty of obtaining low dislocation density GaN templates in a suitable wafer size format (3-inch SiC and 6-inch Si) for mass production. Demonstration of Ka-band operation in the group III-nitrides has, to date, been primarily the realm of academic research labs. IIIAN's proposal bridges the gap between commercially available nitride foundry capabilities and pure research by utilizing proven process technology at RFMD for processes not requiring deep, submicron lithography and utilizing state-of-the-art nanofabrication technology available at the University of Minnesota's NanoFabrication Center."
Group III-Nitride LNAs for Microwave Radiometry,NNX11CF28P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"The IIIAN Company, LLC","2700 East 28th Street, Suite 120",,Minneapolis,MN,55406-1575,No,No,No,Jody Klaassen,Business Official,6122261249,jklaassen@alum.mit.edu,Jody Klaassen,Principal Investigator,6122261249,jklaassen@alum.mit.edu,"This phase I proposal addresses the need for microwave and millimeter wave Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) for remote sensing applications of the earth's atmosphere. In this work, IIIAN proposes using group III-nitride materials, specifically AlGaN/GaN HEMT structures, to fabricate LNAs for microwave radiometers operating from 165 GHz up to 270 GHz. The group III-nitrides have excellent physical properties for high frequency transistors with the added benefit that the high breakdown voltage of the material renders them less susceptible to failure due to spurious strong signals, eliminating the need for protective circuitry between the antenna and the LNA.Passive microwave radiometers used in the PATH and GACM missions are used to quantify levels of trace species in the atmosphere such as O3, CO, N2O, HNO3, ClO and SO2, and also to estimate water content, both gas phase and as aerosols. The instruments used for these measurements rely on microwave emission from the relevant species. Key to such low signal level measurements are front-end LNAs used to amplify the weak microwave emission signal from the antenna prior to the RF detection diode."
A New Paradigm for X-ray Optics Nanopositioning,DE-FG02-10ER86464,DOE,DOE,STTR,2011,2,748000.00,Royston Engineering Research Llc,1025 West Vernon Park Place,Unit A,Chicago,IL,60607-3448,No,No,No,Thomas Royston,Dr.,3124137951,troyston@uic.edu,Curt Preissner,Dr.,6302523020,preissner@aps.anl.gov,"High resolution X-ray microscopy using synchrotron radiation is a key scientific technique in materials research that has provided insight into the atomic structure of bulk materials, surfaces, interfaces, nanoparticles, nanostructures, and nanodomains. Such detailed understanding into the characterization and behavior of matter allows scientists and engineers to design materials with longer fatigue lives, higher strengths, and better wear characteristics. A better understanding of materials results in more efficient use of those materials: more effective materials usage in automobile manufacture, more capable semiconductor devices for the IT revolution, and more efficient catalysts for fuel cells, for example. DOE synchrotrons serve a user community of academic, government, and industrial users. The Advanced Photon Source alone serves over 5000 scientists. At these facilities, the need for nanometer resolution X-ray microscopes continues to grow, as does the desire for higher resolution probes. While novel X-ray optics are being developed that will be able to focus an X-ray beam to nanometer spot sizes, state of the art positioning systems are not capable of the corresponding subnanometer resolution necessary to position the optics or samples to take advantage of this. We are addressing this need by developing an X-ray optic positioning system with subnanometer resolution. This problem will be addressed by developing a positioning system built around a novel type of parallel kinematics, multi-axis flexure based stage a flexapod , interferometric sensing, and advanced controls. Phase I will establish feasibility of our approach for a three degree of freedom flexapod system. Phase II will culminate with a prototype six degree of freedom flexapod positioning system capable of subnanometer translational motion resolution and 10 nanoradian angular resolution. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Material scientists and other X-ray microscope users of synchrotron radiation facilities will benefit from the development of our novel, multi-axis, flexure-based nanopositioning system. We see the primary beneficiaries of this new device to be the beamline scientists for the X-ray microscopy beamlines at US synchrotrons (APS, NSLS, ALS, and SSRL), who are conducting R & amp;D on behalf of numerous academic institutions, government agencies, and private industries spanning from materials science through the life sciences to engineering research. At APS alone, there are about 150 industrial users. In addition, our new positioning system with subnanometer resolution will enable these scientists to move towards answering the DOEs five grand challenges."
An Integrated Decision Support Framework for Sustainability CAE,SB1341-11-SE-0873,DOC,NIST,SBIR,2011,1,89979.00,BIMCON Inc.,2957 Brentwood Road,,W. Bloomfield,MI,48323,No,No,No,,,,,Krishna Murthy,,(248) 875-6591,kmurthy@bimcon.com,"The objective of this proposal is to establish the feasibility of developing an integrated decision support framework that transforms the current time-consuming and reactive (post completion of final design) sustainability assessment into a proactive CAE approach that enables the ability to revise designs based on performance against selected sustainability targets in the product design process, i.e., enables design optimization for sustainability. This framework, called Sustainability CAE (SCAE) will leverage the latest advancements in open standards and software capabilities, capture lifecycle-wide information relevant to sustainability and its assessment and organize and integrate it in a usable form with the analysis phases. In this phase 1 project, we shall focus on: (a) requirements analysis to determine the constituents of information for CAE analysis, (b) the formalization of integrated data models to describe how data should be stored, linked, and accessed and interoperated with design activities, and (c) a proof of concept prototype for the demonstration of the utility of the information model for CAE with goal of analyzing sustainability."
Decision Support Tools for Sustainable Manufacturing,SB1341-11-CN-0086,DOC,NIST,SBIR,2011,2,299620.00,BIMCON Inc.,2957 Brentwood Road,,W. Bloomfield,MI,48323,No,No,No,,,,,Krishna Murthy,,(248) 875-6591,kmurthy@bimcon.com,"Our vision is that of an integrated decision support solution that transforms the current time-consuming and reactive (post-design) sustainability assessment of a product into a proactive approach available in the early design phases. This solution called Sustainability Integrated into Early Design (SIED) will deliver lifecycle sustainability data into early design processes and focus primarily on the key area of target cascading, which does not exist for sustainability metrics, such as carbon footprint. The objective of this SBIR Phase 2 proposal is to extend our Phase 1 research and findings toward the development of a fully functional prototype that forms the basis of future commercialization. Phase 2 work focuses on developing specialized information representations and a set of procedures/algorithms fundamental to the working of this framework with significance focus on developing a fully functional prototype that will be deployed and tested at our industry collaborators."
Massively Parallel High Temperature Probe System for Wafer-level Reliability Testing,SB1341-11-CN-0094,DOC,NIST,SBIR,2011,2,300000.00,Celadon Systems Inc.,14763 Energy Way,,Apple Valley,MN,55124,No,No,No,,,,,Jon Dunklee,,(503) 505-0247,,"Historical methods of reliability assessment are less and less effective as device sizes shrink. Larger sample sizes and longer duration tests are increasingly needed. At the same time, efforts to continue scaling semiconductors to ever smaller geometries is leading to an explosion of new device structures, materials and processes. The cost of testing these innovations is becoming a major barrier to their commercialization. The NIST Phase 1 project demonstrated that existing reliability test systems cannot reduce the cost of test significantly for these long duration tests, but concluded that a tightly integrated system offers the potential for a 10-fold reduction in test costs. However, a tightly integrated system introduces risks and unknowns due to the thermal, mechanical and electrical interaction of system components. The objective of this Phase 2 effort is to explore interactions between a broad range of feasible alternative identified in Phase 1 and develop the best possible combination into an integrated system."
Prototype Carbon Nanotube Ultracapacitor,NNX11CC63C,NASA,NASA,STTR,2011,2,599998.00,"Scientic, Inc",555 Sparkman Drive,Suite 214,Huntsville,AL,-,No,No,No,Gary L. Grant,Business Official,2562560858,gary.grant@scientic.us,Scott A. von Laven,Principal Investigator,2563190872,scott.vonlaven@scientic.us,"Scientic, Inc. and Vanderbilt University propose to dramatically improve the performance of ultracapacitors to address several applications within NASA. As power-supply components, ultracapacitors provide extremely high power densities, fast recharging rates, and long cycle life; when used in tandem with batteries, they can greatly extend battery life. We note that ultracapacitors can assume almost any form factor that an application might require. Our recent success with a flexible substrate supports this claim. Finally, commercialization of our ultracapacitor will rely on the use of environmentally friendly materials and well understood industrial manufacturing processes in common use today.We propose to develop a novel hybrid electrochemical ultracapacitor which will combine desirable attributes such as extremely high energy-power density, excellent life-cycle reliability and safety characteristics, with low production cost and have the potential for widespread deployment in energydelivery/storage applications for the NASA. In this innovative, hybrid, demonstrated approach we will grow vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes (CNT) directly on conducting flexible substrates to reduce contact resistances, and we will exploit the more controllable CNT nano-architectures for optimumattachment of inexpensive pseudocapacitive manganese-dioxide (MnO2) nanoparticles to enhance charge efficiency and energy-power capacity. Our approach employs ""green"" electrolyte that increases cell voltage."
1 Gb Radiation Hardened Nonvolatile Memory Development,NNX11CH18P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"Scientic, Inc",555 Sparkman Drive,Suite 214,Huntsville,AL,-,No,No,No,Gary L. Grant,Vice President-Contracts,2563190858,gary.grant@scientic.us,Jeff A. Dame,Principal Investigator,2563190860,jeff.dame@scientic.us,"The objective of this effort is to identify, characterize and develop advanced semiconductor materials and fabrication process techniques, and design and produce a Gigabit (GB)-scale high density, radiation hardened (RH), SONOS-based nonvolatile memory (NVM) in a standard, high density CMOS technology with feature sizes approaching the 90nm technology node. Highly reliable, RH SWAP-efficient, high-density NVM provides for the deployment of more capable, flexible and responsive hardware designs leading to improved mission performance and enhanced data storage capability with less system operational complexity and reduced system vulnerability to natural and weapons generated radiation environments. By leveraging state-of-the-art (SOA) commercial NVM technologies and implementing a combination of these elements with the proper memory cell architecture, radiation hardened device design, and advanced fabrication processes, we are confident we can produce a 1Gb RH NVM using currently available CMOS process modules at or below the90 nm fabrication technology node. The unique materials and process technologies to be investigated in our approach include composite high-k dielectric thin-film oxide materials, shallow trench isolation, atomic layer deposition, p-channel silicon-insulator-nitride-oxide-silicon (SINOS) NVM architecture, and RH CMOS peripheral circuitry."
Safe High Voltage Cathode Materials for Pulsed Power Applications,N00014-11-M-0315,DOD,NAVY,STTR,2011,1,150000.00,"Scientic, Inc",555 Sparkman Drive,Suite 214,Huntsville,AL,-,No,No,No,Gary Grant,VP - Contracts,(256) 319-0858,gary.grant@scientic.us,A. von,Chief Scientist,(256) 319-0872,scott.vonlaven@scientic.us,"The mission of this proposed research is to develop a high-voltage, high-capacity, and inexpensive cathode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIB) capable of supporting high transient and pulsed loads while offering enhanced safety and lifecycle performance. Currently LIB is one of the most promising battery technologies that can provide higher energy density than other batteries. It also does not suffer from the memory effect and the loss of charge is relatively slow when not in use. Hence, high-performance LIB remains the preferred technology that would address a much broader range of energy source/storage for both military and civil applications if advanced cathode material with extreme operating capability could be realized. The innovation of this proposed research utilizes multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) as nano-architecture current collector array grown directly on a flexible Al (or graphite) foil. The CNT array is then coated with a high-performance active layer of ternary solid solution of orthosilicates Li2MnxFeyCozSiO4 (x + y + z = 1) as the cathode material. This novel approach of using nano-structured vertical-aligned CNT network provides a high surface area of attachment for Li2MnxFeyCozSiO4 nanoparticles and to minimize the contact resistance at the active material/current collector interface, thereby, maximizing the charge efficiency and the energy density of the cathode. Previous research performed at Vanderbilt University using vertical-aligned CNT impregnated with MnO2 nano-particles as electrodes [1] for electrochemical supercapacitor has recently resulted in record-breaking performance of ~1,000 F/cm3."
Radiation Hardening of Point-Of-Load (POL) Converters,HQ0147-11-C-7600,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"Scientic, Inc",555 Sparkman Drive,Suite 214,Huntsville,AL,-,No,No,No,Gary L. Grant,Vice President-Contracts,(256) 319-0858,gary.grant@scientic.us,"James J. Sheehy, Jr.",Director of Survivability Programs,(256) 319-0843,jim.sheehy@scientic.us,"Due to growing defense and aerospace system complexity and associated power management and distribution schemes, there is an ever increasing need for high efficiency, Point-of-Load (POL) converters to replace the centrally tailored power distribution schemes of the past. Power conditioning approaches must address HAENS survivability requirements while responding to stringent interceptor and space-system sensor, avionics and electronics power conditioning needs. Further power solutions must deliver enhanced reliability as-well-as significantly improved size, weight and power (SWAP) performance. Meeting these demands requires HAENS survivable POL converters capable of supporting high input voltages and having the flexibility to deliver multiple, stable output voltages down to 1.2V. The above requirements can be met by hardening existing commercial products. The objective of this effort is to implement specific RHBD, non-invasive, RHBP and packaging techniques and electrical performance enhancement strategies to an existing Hi Rel commercial POL device, to achieve both improved conversion efficiency and HAENS survivability. Knowledge gained, can be applied to an existing family of commercial POL devices and will provide a wide selection of survivable power management devices to meet diverse and evolving missile defense power management requirements."
Strategically Radiation-Hardened Star Tracker,FA9453-11-M-0129,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"Scientic, Inc",555 Sparkman Drive,Suite 214,Huntsville,AL,-,No,No,No,Gary L. Grant,Vice President-Contracts,(256) 319-0858,gary.grant@scientic.us,Barry A. Posey,Director of Component Engineering,(256) 319-0848,barry.posey@scientic.us,"ABSTRACT: Scientic, Inc. and Comtec AeroAstro (CAA) in partnership proposes to determine intrinsic radiation hardness of the CAA MST design in order to identify requirements needed for a strategic radiation level star tracker that will include tolerance to natural space radiation environments. We will investigate improvements in the MST design such as EEE parts replacements, innovative shielding techniques, new hardened materials and/or architecture approaches to that will improve the radiation hardness capability. The ultimate goal of this effort is the development of a strategically radiation hardened star tracker with autonomous lost-in-space recovery and high-angular-rate tracking capability Scientic, Inc. and Comtech AeroAstro (CAA) look forward to exercising the excellent linkage between this Air Force Research Laboratory SBIR and the Commercialization effort. While the current market does not yet meet AFRL""s needs for performance specified in the solicitation with commensurate cost, the CAA ruggedized miniature star tracker system will take camera design forward with the next significant generation of technological/cost strides. BENEFIT: Our proposed star tracker enables low SWAP, low cost spacecraft attitude control is a crucial element in the commercialization strategy for Space Customers. We believe that this ruggedized star tracker will become the standard for all DoD satellites, and we plan to push for incorporating the radiation-hard star tracker on every US satellite launched (government and civilian).. We project that our operational system will be available for integration onto DoD systems by 3Q 13 and commercial systems by 4Q 13. Our sales forecast is below: FY13: 4 units FY14: 8 units FY15: 15 units FY16: 20 units Volume is sustained through ~ FY20 Scientic and CAA truly believe that this system also has tremendous potential in the non-space community as well. Fundamentally, the radiation-hard star tracker is a very robust, low power, low volume vision and ranging system. Therefore, the possible terrestrial applications range from security/monitoring systems to autonomous robotic vision for mobile systems. We plan to expand the Phase I and Phase II work to address non-space qualified parts to reduce recurring costs, and expect to have good long term projections by mid-2011."
Development of a High Strength Low Thermal Diffusivity Insulator Material,HQ0147-11-C-7707,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,999113.00,C9 Corporation,107 Hermes Rd Suite 225,,Malta,NY,-,No,No,No,Kevin Donegan,"President, CEO",(518) 289-5831,kdonegan@c9corp.com,Stan Hemstad,Product Development Manag,(518) 289-5831,shemstad@c9corp.com,"The C9 team proposes to exploit the success of the phase I effort by fabricating and doing full scale testing of the Throttling Divert and Attitude Control System(TDACS) Throat support for the Block IIA or Block IIB upgrades of the SM-3 Missile Defense system. The desired goal is to be production ready for BlockIIA which is currently in Critical Design Review with full scale testing in the 3rd quarter of 2011. The program is perfectly timed for the BlockIIB upgrade program which has just been kicked-off. Developing a High Strength Thermal Insulator is critical to meeting the goals of the SM-3 TDACS program due to the high temperature soaks that result from long duration throttling of the TDACS. Full scale in the Aerojet 5""TDACS and Preliminary Engineering Test Motor(PETM) will be conducted at Aerojet in Rancho Cordova, California. Finite Element Analysis will be performed by Material Research and Design in Wayne, Pennsylvania partially funded by their just let contract for trade studies for Block IIB and by an enhancement to their existing Phase II SBIR supporting the development of several MDA SBIR material development programs. The project includes development of a design allowable data base and manufacturing qualification."
Stroke Treatment by Chemically-Induced Hypothermia,1R41NS073378-01A1,HHS,HHS,STTR,2011,1,883728.00,"HALIMED PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.",475-A EAST BAY STRET,,CHARLESTON,SC,-,No,No,No,Gautam S. Ghatnekar,,843-860-8785,gautamghatnekar@gmail.com,Thomas A. Dix,,843-860-8785,dixta@musc.edu,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. In spite of intensive investigations, clinical therapies for treating acute stroke patients remain limited and unsatisfactory. There are consistent animal and human data that mild to moderate hypothermia (reducing body temperature to 32-34oC) is generally safe and improves outcome after brain ischemia even when initiated hours after ischemia occurs. Different from most neuroprotective drugs that usuallytarget only one mechanism, hypothermia therapy has the advantage of global protection on all cell types and tissues in both gray and white matters. Several important limitations, however, have precluded the widespread use of hypothermia therapy in strokepatients. The major obstruction is that existing forced cooling techniques are ineffectual and/or impractical in clinical settings. To overcome the shortcomings of current methods, the concept of regulated hypothermia induced by pharmacological means has been proposed as a new strategy in hypothermia therapy; although there have been no drugs that can be used for regulated hypothermia therapy. To this end, we have synthesized and tested novel neurotensin(NT)[8-13] derivatives, such as ABS201 and ABS601,that are potent hypothermic compounds and have dramatic neuroprotective activity in animal stroke models. These NT compounds show no toxic effects, attenuate infarct formation by nearly 50% even when administered 45 min after the onset of ischemia. The mechanism of protection appears to involve their ability to cross the blood brain barrier, bind to the NT receptor as agonists, and reduce the set point of the central temperature control so that systemic hypothermia in the absence of shivering is promoted. It is thus hypothesized that NT/ABS derivatives have strong potential of being developed for regulated hypothermia therapy. In the Phase I study, we will compare the hypothermic potency of six NT/ABS derivatives. Two leading compounds without detectableside effects will be tested and compared for their neuroprotection in aged rats of two stroke models of transient and permanent ischemia. This translational investigation is not intended to delineate the mechanism of hypothermia protection, which has beenextensively studied so far. Rather, we aim to demonstrate the feasibility of the chemical-induced hypothermia therapy and move to more systematic preclinical examinations of a Phase II investigation. Our ultimate goal is to advance the drug-induced hypothermia therapy to the clinic. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Ischemic stroke is the third leading cause of human death and disability in the US. This investigation will develop a chemical-induced hypothermia therapy for stroke patients. The comprehensive neuroprotective effects of clinically feasible hypothermia therapy will be studied in two different stroke models, which will facilitate the translation of the therapy to clinical applications."
SBIR Phase I: 3D X-ray Imager,1113254,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,Pacific Microchip Corp.,3916 Sepulveda Boulevard #108,,Culver City,CA,90230-4650,No,No,No,Denis Zelenin,,3104283164,denis@pacificmicrochip.com,Denis Zelenin,,3104283164,denis@pacificmicrochip.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a novel 3-D X-ray imager that will allow potential users to directly obtain 3D images with a single X-ray exposure. Computer Tomography (CT) permits capturing a 3D image of an object however, it requires bulky and expensive mechanical parts to produce a series of 2D X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation. The proposed imager will overcome these limitations so that 3D X-ray imaging can become as portable and widespread as 2D. The expertise in design of monolithic X-ray imagers that combines high-speed precision electronics for signal processing will be employed. This design will use bulk silicon as a direct photon-to-electron X-ray detector to sense backscattered X-rays. The use of time of flight measurement, 56 ranging bins will ensure high depth resolution. A novel gating feature will permit further increase in resolution and detuning the image of the objects that obscure the target areas. During Phase I a circuit design and in silico validation of the 3D X-ray imager will be provided. During Phase II a monolithic prototype will be designed, fabricated using a commercial silicon technology and tested resulting in a full commercial product. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes the ability to manufacture the 3D X-ray imager on 200mm standard CMOS wafers as a wafer scale chip including the X-ray detector array based on direct X-ray photon to electron conversion. The proposed 3D X-ray imager allows for a revolutionary breakthrough in the construction of CT scanners for medical applications, improvised explosive devices (IED) detection for military, luggage and cargo screening equipment. In order to make CT equipment compact, the proposed 3D X-ray imager eliminates mechanical parts. According to industry estimates, the global X-ray imaging sensor market is expected to grow from $700 million or 19,000 units in 2008 to $7.2 billion or 212,000 units in 2012. This new technology will make handheld CT scanning inexpensive. Medical personnel will be able to quickly assess injuries even when they are not close to a standard CT machine as may happen in a remote area, on the battlefield, and at the scene of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. It is expected to sell this device to CT scanner producers, IED detection device manufacturers, and airport luggage and cargo screening equipment manufacturers to replace currently used 2D imagers."
Low Power 2-Bit ADC Array with Serial Output,NNX11CB15C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599973.00,Pacific Microchip Corp.,3916 Sepulveda Boulevard #108,,Culver City,CA,90230-4650,No,No,No,Dalius Baranauskas,Business Official,3109403083,dalius@pacificmicrochip.com,Dalius Baranauskas,Principal Investigator,3109403083,dalius@pacificmicrochip.com,"Microwave interferometers for NASA missions such as PATH employ the GeoSTAR instrument, consisting of 600 receivers. Each receiver requires I and Q ADCs (analog-to-digital converters) for signal digitizing at 1GHz before further processing in the cross-correlators. Power consumption as well as instrument volume and weight are critical in space born instruments. During Phase I, Pacific Microchip Corp. designed the block diagrams and circuits of a monolithic array consisting of sixteen 2-bit ADCs. A serializer is integrated to reduce the number of outputs from 32 to 1. This reduces the power consumption per ADC and resolves the problem of wiring congestion in the interface with cross-correlators. For further power reduction, a novel metastability programming feature is integrated into the ADC latches. The clock distribution is fundamentally simplified as well. The 2-wire serial I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) interface allows all 1200 ADCs of the GeoSTAR instrument to be calibrated and optimized. Phase I work provided a complete definition and in silico validation of the monolithic ADC array with serial output. Phase II of the project will produce a fieldable product. In order to facilitate the commercialization efforts in Phase III, a Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) Silicon-on-Isolator (SOI) technology will be used for fabrication."
Real Time Adaptable ROIC for improved Power and Performance Optimization in Imager Systems,W909MY-11-C-0044,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99992.00,Pacific Microchip Corp.,3916 Sepulveda Boulevard #108,,Culver City,CA,90230-4650,No,No,No,Dalius Baranauskas,CEO,(310) 940-3083,dalius@pacificmicrochip.com,Denis Zelenin,CTO,(310) 428-3164,denis@pacificmicrochip.com,"Remote fielding of Low Light, Near IR and Short Wave IR (N/SW-IR) focal plane arrays (FPAs) requires Readout Integrated Circuits (ROICs) that may dynamically adapt their performance parameters to meet the needs of the situation at the lowest possible power consumption. Pacific Microchip Corp. proposes to design a ROIC capable to accommodate up to 2048 x 2048 pixel, 5 to 25m pitch FPAs with charge and voltage domain P/N as well as N/P detectors. The proposed ROIC will include a number of dynamically adaptable parameters and features: sampling and frame rate, binning and windowing at pixel level, anti-blooming, bi-directional skimming, dynamic range that will permit the imaging system to self-adjust in order to meet the specific operational needs with the lowest possible level of power consumption. A novel power efficient data serializer will be implemented to simplify data interfacing. A unique ROIC topology will permit combining four focal planes to build a 16M pixel imager panel. During Phase I, a simulation model, the preliminary ROIC""s design and in silico proof of the concept will be provided. Phase II will result in the ROIC""s prototype ready for production on 300mm CMOS wafers and its commercialization in Phase III."
Tube Map Interface for a Coupled Scheduling and Diagnostics System,NNX11CD23P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99993.00,"Aligned Concepts, LLC",2103 Alaqua Lakes Boulevard,,Longwood,FL,32779-3206,No,Yes,No,Don Asumu,Business Official,4077334929,donasumu@gmail.com,Don Asumu,Principal Investigator,4077334929,donasumu@gmail.com,"We propose the concept of a tube map display as a means to effectively integrate schedule timeline information and fault diagnosis data into a single high value presentation. Tube maps are potentially a high value method of presenting multiple dimensions of information. This work will prove the feasibility of depicting combined schedule and fault information in the domain of asset scheduling using a communications simulation testbed. This testbed will be based upon key node and link abstractions of the space, ground and deep space networks. In order to simulate how mission schedules are affected by faults, a range of communication path faults can be selected by a user and injected into mission scenarios in order to gain further insights into how schedules can be tuned in real time to changing conditions on ground and space assets. Injected faults are modeled as a set of additional scheduling constraints in exactly the same way as other physical or mission preference constraints. The uniform constraint representation used capture mission requirements, preferences, constraints and faults can also be extended to multi-criteria optimization objectives for the resource schedulerÂ? enabling a mix of factors to drive the generation of the optimized schedule."
Carbon-Carbon High Melt Coating for Nozzle Extensions,NNX11CA71C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,592438.00,"Carbon-Carbon Advanced Technologies, Inc",4704 Eden Road,,Kennedale,TX,76060-,No,No,No,James C. Thompson,Vice President,8179852500,jthompson@c-cat.net,James Thompson,Principal Investigator,8179852500,jthompson@c-cat.net,"The High Melt Coating system is applied to a carbon-carbon structure and embeds HfC, ZrB2 in the outer layers. ACC High Melt builds on the time tested base material system of T-300 fibers, impregnated with phenolic resin, pyrolyzed, densified, and SiC Conversion coatedFor Phase 2, C-CAT proposes to team with Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne to fully develop High Melt into a material system that when combined with the appropriate design will produce nozzle extensions for future NASA spacecraft. PWR will supply the designs for a notional nozzle extension for a 2000 lbf LOX/LCH4 lunar descent engine and a nozzle extension for a notional lunar ascent engine sized at 5500 lbf LOX/LCH4.
Objectives:
C-CAT engineering will work with PWR designers to insure that the nozzle extension design for each prototype is both manufacturable and will meet the technical requirements.
C-CAT engineering will design and C-CAT will fabricate lay-up tools that will take into account ply shrinkage distortion and still maintain dimensional tolerances during processing.
Lay-up the nozzle extensions without defects
Process each nozzle extension through pyrolysis, heat treatment and coating without defects.
Apply SiC Conversion Coating to the ACC High Melt material without spalling."
Advanced Bayesian Methods for Lunar Surface Navigation,NNX11CA57C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599999.00,"Autonomous Exploration, Inc.",MA,,Andover,MA,01810-3234,No,No,No,Julian Center,Business Official,9782694120,jcenter@ieee.org,Julian Center,Principal Investigator,9782694120,jcenter@ieee.org,"The key innovation of this project is the application of advanced Bayesian methods to integrate real-time dense stereo vision and high-speed optical flow with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to produce a highly accurate planetary rover navigation system. The software developed in this project leverages current computing technology to implement advanced Visual Odometry (VO) methods that will accurately track much faster rover movements. Our fully Bayesian approach to VO will utilizes information from the images than previous methods are capable of using. Our Bayesian VO does not explicitly select features to track. Instead it implicitly determines what can be learned from each image pixel and weights the information accordingly. This means that our approach can work with images that have no distinct corners, which can be a significant advantage with low contrast images from permanently shadowed areas. We have shown that the error characteristics of the visual processing are complementary to the error characteristics of a low-cost IMU. Therefore, the combination of the two can provide highly accurate navigation."
Sealed Planetary Return Canister (SPRC),NNX11CB25C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,586157.00,Techno Planet Incorporated,CA,,Northridge,CA,91325-2936,Yes,No,No,Scott P. Stanley,Vice President,8187097815,spstanley@technoplanetinc.com,Scott Stanley,Principal Investigator,8187097815,spstanley@technoplanetinc.com,"Sample return missions have primary importance in future planetary missions. A basic requirement is that samples be returned in pristine, uncontaminated condition, necessitating development of a canister system capable of maintaining cleanliness and seal integrity through a variety of environments. Further development of the Sealed Planetary Return Canister (SPRC), is proposed after a successful Phase 1 program. Besides providing a high integrity seal, the canister incorporates features for robotic manipulation and to allow the sample to be accessed in a controlled manner upon return to Earth. The SPRC seal system addresses the two most significant concerns for planetary samples?seal surfaces contaminated by the sample and high pressure due to the phase change of volatiles. The SPRC incorporates a novel sealing system evolved from the only marginally successful Apollo indium knife edge seal approach but with added features to address the difficulties and inconsistencies observed. The indium is contained within a protective barrier to prevent against contamination, and the knife edge is mechanically cleaned during the sealing process. The container body can be configured to accommodate a variety of samples including rock cores, rock fragments, regolith, dust, and frozen soil. Atmospheric samples can also be preserved. The design is readily scalable and adaptable to specific missions. The prototype developed in Phase 1 demonstrated a leakage rate of less than 1e-6 cc-atm/s, meeting the primary science requirement."
Spatiotemporally Controlled Keratin Biomaterial Delivery System for Functional Tissue Regeneration,W81XWH-11-C-0060,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,149845.00,"KeraNetics, LLC","Richard Dean Research Building, Suite 168",391 Technology Way,Winston-Salem,NC,27101-,No,No,No,Kim Westmoreland,Co-Managing Director,(336) 725-0621,kim.westmoreland@keranetics.com,Luke Burnett,Director of Product Development,(336) 725-0621,luke.burnett@keranetics.com,"A principal approach in regenerative medicine is to stimulate or augment endogenous repair mechanisms that promote functional restoration of damaged or diseased tissues. When loss of significant volumes of multiple functionally integrated tissues occurs,"
Keratin Biomaterials for Cranio-facial Tissue Engineering,W81XWH-10-C-0165,DOD,DHP,SBIR,2011,2,749994.00,"KeraNetics, LLC","Richard Dean Research Building, Suite 168",391 Technology Way,Winston-Salem,NC,27101-,No,No,No,Kim Westmoreland,Managing Director,(336) 918-6404,kim.westmoreland@keranetics.com,Luke Burnett,Director Product Developm,(336) 202-1307,luke.burnett@keranetics.com,"The majority of personnel injured in OIF/OEF have suffered blast injuries from IEDs. Blasts often cause cranio-facial trauma that is difficult to repair surgically. The current standard of care involves the placement of fixation devices and off label use of growth factor carriers. These strategies often require multiple surgical interventions creating a significant need for better technologies that can be used in minimally invasive procedures. A family of biomaterials derived from keratin proteins may provide a platform on which new strategies can be built. Keratins have broad biocompatibility and can be formulated as films, fibers, foams, solid tissue constructs and important to this project, hydrogels. One of the problems with many synthetic and naturally derived biomaterials is that they do not promote cell adhesion and migration into scaffolds that have weak cell-matrix interactions. Keratins have intrinsic cell-binding properties that can be exploited to offer new solutions to cranio-facial regeneration. This Phase II proposal seeks to expand on Phase I data by testing an injectable keratin growth factor carrier in both large and small animal models of mandible defects. The results will be used in an application to the FDA to begin clinical trials for injuries of cranio-facial bone structures."
Technology Transfer of Multimodal Biometric Application Resource Kit (MBARK),SB1341-11-CN-0092,DOC,NIST,SBIR,2011,2,300000.00,Ad Harmony,15 Rose Ave.,,Staten Island,NY,10306,No,No,No,,,,,Bob Gupta,,(609) 230-4262,bobg1966@gmail.com,"The technical objective of this project is to develop a prototype of a face recognition application in a cloud computing environment utilizing MBARK as the middleware. The application will have a client piece that will run on a mobile device such as a laptop and a server piece that will run on a higher-performance computing cluster. The specific objectives of this development project can be enumerated as follows: 1. Implement a distributed MBARK system that allows local functions, such as data capture and filtering, to pass data and control streams to/from remote server functions such as compute-intensive analysis and database matching."
Development of Microarrays-based Metagenomics Technology for Monitoring Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria in Subsurface Environments,DE-FG02-10ER86444,DOE,DOE,STTR,2011,2,749791.00,"Glomics, Inc",716 Waterwood Dr.,,Norman,OK,73072-4369,Yes,No,No,Cindy Shi,Dr.,4052131790,cshi@cox.net,Jizhong Zhou,Dr.,4052131790,jzhou59@cox.net,"Due to their vast diversity and as-yet uncultivated status, detecting, characterizing and quantifying microorganisms in natural settings are of grand challenge, and understanding the mechanistic linkages between microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning and their feedback responses to human activities and climate change is even more difficult. There is an urgent need to develop rapid high throughput metagenomics technologies for characterizing microbial community structure, functions and activities. Large-scale genome sequencing and associated metagenomic technologies such as GeoChip have revolutionized the study of microbial communities. The GeoChip is a revolutionary high throughput genomics technology for linking microbial community structure to functions, allowing researchers to address scientific questions which could not be approached previously. GeoChip-based technologies, OU GeoChip, won one of R & amp;D 100 Awards of 2009, which recognize 100 most technological innovations with the greatest commercial potentials. In this Phase I project, we will further develop the GeoChip-based metagenomic technology and associated computational tools in coupling with high throughput sequencing for simultaneously detecting many sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in subsurface environments important to environmental cleanup and management. We will first develop novel computational approaches to design specific gene probes for microarray fabrication. We will then use high throughput sequencing approaches to examine the diversity of SRB in the ERSP Field Research Center at Oak Ridge, followed by developing more representative GeoChip for detecting SRB for bioremediation of uranium and other heavy metals. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: New software tools for designing specific probes and a prototype dsrAB microarray for detecting SRB populations will be developed through the Phase I support. On one hand, this will directly help address the outlined objectives of the proposed Phase II study for developing more comprehensive GeoChip of commercial values for studying subsurface biogeochemical processes important to environmental cleanup and management. On the other hand, the richer information on SRB will strengthen the commercial potential and sales of the current version of GeoChip for studying subsurface microbial communities, which has been utilized by many scientists from different countries. In addition, the developed GeoChip and computational tools will be not only important for assessing subsurface microbial communities, but also useful for studying microbial communities in general from other environments such as soils, marine sediments, waste waters, and biocorrosion."
Development of Novel Random Network Theory-Based Approaches to Identify Network Interactions Among Nitrifying Bacteria,DE-FG02-10ER86443,DOE,DOE,STTR,2011,2,749792.00,"Glomics, Inc",716 Waterwood Dr.,,Norman,OK,73072-4369,Yes,No,No,Cindy Shi,Dr.,4052131790,cshi@cox.net,Jizhong Zhou,Dr.,4052131790,jzhou59@cox.net,"The interactions among different microbial populations in a community play critical roles in determining ecosystem functioning but very little is known about the network interactions in a microbial community due to the lack of appropriate experimental data and computational analytic tools. High-throughput metagenomics technologies can rapidly produce massive data, but one of the greatest challenges is how to extract, analyze, synthesize, and transform such vast amount of information to biological knowledge. To address such challenges, a novel conceptual framework and computational approaches will be developed based on a mathematical approach, random matrix theory (RMT) using large scale, high throughput metagenomics sequencing and hybridization data. We will first use high throughput sequencing technologies to examine the diversity of AmoA genes in a grassland ecosystem exposed to elevated CO2 for 12 years to understand how nitrifying bacteria respond to elevated CO2, followed by an updated version of GeoChip for detecting nitrifying populations. GeoChip is a revolutionary, high throughput genomics technology for linking microbial community structure to ecosystem functions, which allows researchers to address scientific questions which could not be approached previously. GeoChip-based technologies, OU GeoChip won one of R & amp;D 100 Awards of 2009, which recognizes the 100 most technological innovations with the greatest commercial potentials. Based on metagenomics data from both pyrosequencing and GeoChip hybridizations, in this proposed study, we will develop a novel conceptual framework and computational approaches for identification and characterization of network interactions of microbial communities based on random matrix theory. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The proposed conceptual framework and computational approaches for constructing molecular ecological networks (MENs) will be developed through the Phase I support, which is not only critical for addressing the objectives outlined in this study, (developing a comprehensive computational software package for analyzing network interactions of microbial communities proposed in the Phase II study), but also important for the study of microbial ecology in general. The developed novel network approach will allow microbiologists to address fundamental questions which could not be approached previously. In addition, the development of RMT-based network approach will enhance the uniqueness of GeoChip technologies, such as GeoChip data analysis and interpretation, and hence further promote the commercialization of GeoChip-based technologies."
Nanowire Photovoltaic Devices,NNX11CC58C,NASA,NASA,STTR,2011,2,599918.00,Firefly Technologies,2082 Hackberry Lane,,Shakopee,MN,55379-4622,No,No,No,Michael Nesnidal,Business Official,6086080935,mness4@yahoo.com,David Forbes,Principal Investigator,3304212104,dvfsps@rit.edu,"Firefly, in collaboration with Rochester Institute of Technology, proposes developing a space solar cell having record efficiency exceeding 40% (AM0) by the introduction of nanowires within the active region of the current limiting sub-cell. The introduction of these nanoscale features will enable realization of an intermediate band solar cell (IBSC), while simultaneously increasing the effective absorption volume that can otherwise limit short-circuit current generated by thin quantized layers. The triple junction cell follows conventional designs comprised of bottom Ge cell (0.67eV), a current-limiting middle GaAs (1.43eV) cell, and a top InGaP (1.90eV) cell. The GaAs cell will be modified to contain InAs nanowires to enable an IBSC, which is predicted to demonstrate ~45% efficiency under 1-sun AM0 conditions. The InAs nanowires will be implemented in-situ within the epitaxy environment, which is a significant innovation relative to conventional semiconductor nanowire generation using ex-situ gold nanoparticles. Successful completion of the proposed work will result in ultra-high efficiency, radiation-tolerant space solar cells that are compatible with existing manufacturing processes. Significant cost savings are expected with higher efficiency cells, enabling increased payload capability and longer mission durations."
Advanced Membrane Technology for Helium Recover,DE-FG02-10ER86445,DOE,DOE,STTR,2011,2,749524.00,"Helios-NRG, LLC",12 Yardley Lane,,East Amherst,NY,14051-1683,No,No,No,Ravi Prasad,Dr.,7162893864,Prasad@Helios-NRG.com,Ravi Prasad,Dr.,7162893864,Prasad@Helios-NRG.com,"This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase 1 project will lead to the development of a simple, cost effective technology which can recover helium from gas reservoirs containing helium concentrations too low to permit economic recovery at present. This will enable helium recovery from fields currently producing natural gas but considered uneconomical for the recovery of the contained helium and also permit many newly discovered sources of helium to be exploited. Helios-NRG is proposing the development of a novel, membrane based separation technology to recover helium from the above natural gas sources. As helium production from current sources continues to diminish, it becomes increasingly important to take advantage of all available helium supplies. In the US, a major fraction of the available helium is in marginal concentration reservoirs and is currently unrecovered. Globally it is believed that this percentage is even larger. Recovery of helium in this manner represents a major departure from current technology by making it economically attractive to produce more helium, primarily from domestic sources, thereby reviving US helium production. The research will be broken down into a series of tasks comprising a combination of property database development, membrane preparation and testing, computer performance modeling, and process analysis. It is expected that the results of the Phase 1 work will confirm technology feasibility leading to recommendations for the Phase 2 work and provide a rational basis for scaling to pilot size. In addition to its many industrial uses, helium plays a key role in high tech applications such as medical diagnostics as well as state-of-the-art particle physics research. Its unique properties make it an ideal and irreplaceable medium for conducting this work. Unless and until a large portion of this unrecovered helium can be brought to market, future advances in these important areas will suffer. The proposed technology can provide a path to increasing production by enabling cost effective recovery of this quickly depleting resource. Its flexibility to process a wide range of feed stream compositions opens up the prospect for adding this technology to existing processing facilities and enables helium production from non-producing sources worldwide. Helios-NRG proposes the development of a step change membrane technology which will enable the recovery of helium from vast, but marginal sources which are uneconomic today. This will revive declining US production, maintain US global leadership and ensure reliable supply of this valuable resource for decades to come. Helium is an irreplaceable resource available in diminishing quantity requiring ever more aggressive separation techniques to maintain supplies. This program proposes to develop a novel, energy efficient, separation technique to recover helium from vast natural gas reservoirs that contain helium concentrations too low for current economic recovery. In this manner, this program promotes the DOEs interest in promoting innovative technology and ensures future helium supply for key public uses such as optical fiber production, NASA space program, superconductors, MRI and other medical applications. Helios-NRG in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory plans to develop an economically attractive, energy efficient, membrane separation technology to exploit vast natural gas reservoirs containing low concentrations of helium."
Development and Commercialization of Next Generation of Neural Microelectrode Arr,1R43NS073162-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,709800.00,BLACKROCK MICROSYSTEMS,"391 CHIPETA WAY, STE G",,SALT LAKE CITY,UT,84108-,No,No,No,Rajmohan Bhandari,,801-582-5533,rbhandari@blackrockmicro.com,Rajmohan Bhandari,,801-582-5533,rbhandari@blackrockmicro.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The array technology developed by Normann et.al. two decades ago at the University of Utah is currently being manufactured and marketed to the neuroscience research community by Blackrock Microsystems (formerly known asCyberkinetics, Inc., CKI). The Utah electrode array (UEA) is the only high- electrode density, penetrating microelectrode array that is FDA and CE approved, for human use. These arrays, both chronic and acute, have been shown to work very well in animal subjects and their commercial availability has met with considerable interest. The 'manufacturing' procedures that are used to fabricate the UEA at present are closely based on those that were used in their initial development in the laboratory, two decadesago. To date the fabrication of the UEA's has been carried out on a single array basis and as a result the manufacturing technique is not only time consuming but also labor intensive. Also, the existing fabrication costs including utilities, manpower, andmaintenance are high. More importantly, the current processes used to fabricate the UEAs impose limitations in the tolerances of the electrode array geometry and electrical characteristics. Furthermore, the flat architecture of the UEA and convoluted geometry of the targeted tissue can result in poor coupling between the two mating surfaces, leading to active electrode tips that are not in proximity to the target neuronal tissue. Thus for an efficient neural interface and for wide experimental usage bothin experimental and clinical applications, the existing UEA fabrication technique provides inadequate quality, repeatability, and throughput. There is a need to develop less costly but higher precision batch fabrication technology. In 2006, the University of Utah proposed and began work on optimizing existing processes, exploring new materials, designing new architecture of electrode array that are compliant with the host-tissue, and last but not the least developing wafer-scale based process flow for theUEA fabrication. The applicants of this application compose of such a team of engineers, scientists that have been working together over the past years on the technology development for the UEA. The goals of this application is to transfer the manufacturing technology developed at the University of Utah to Blackrock Microsystems, making the technology into a turnkey technology that can be disseminated to the neuroscience and clinical research community, by making the existing microelectrode arrays affordable, better, reliable, and customizable for both acute and chronic applications. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Relevance The new technology would allow us to fabricate neural multielectrode arrays with (a) uniformly shaped microelectrodes (b) small and uniformly exposed active tip sites (c) coated with an electrode material that can deliver high charge densities i.e. high charge injection capacity (CIC) (d) deposited with a highly robust encapsulation material for chronic applications and (e) convoluted electrode arrays for better geometrical match with the targeted tissue. Furthermore the technology would provide better quality, repeatability, and higher throughput of electrode arrays at lower cost of manufacturing and faster lead time. All these advantages would help in making the electrode arrays affordable and assessable to the neuroscience community."
SBIR Phase I: Laser Photoacoustic Sensor for Air Toxic and Trace Gas Compounds,1045978,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149948.00,"Masstech, Inc.",MD,,Columbia,MD,21046-2985,Yes,No,No,Guangkun Li,DEng,4435390139,homer@apmaldi.com,Guangkun Li,,4435390139,homer@apmaldi.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims at developing laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LPAS) sensor for continuous, real-time measurements of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and other air pollutants such as Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. The intellectual merit of the activity lies in the creation of a new a operationally simple, low cost, robust, compact, ruggedized field-deployable and affordable ambient air and stationary source pollution sensor that is capable of real-time measuring multiple pollutant and toxic compounds simultaneously. The instrument will use the newly advanced quantum cascade laser (QCL) or interband cascade laser (ICL) absorption to accurately quantify multiple chemical compounds within a short period of time (~ 40 to 60 seconds) with a precision of sub parts per billion. The broader/commercial impacts of this research are expected to be within numerous areas including: 1) Air toxic measurements, such as ambient air and stationary source pollution monitoring, industrial hygiene monitoring, confined space monitoring and process emission monitoring, etc. 2) Global atmospheric monitoring of air toxics, air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and trace species. 3) Military applications. Besides the environmental and industrial application, many other military applications including detection of Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA), explosives, TICs, can make use of the devices developed in this project. Potential customers include the EPA, NOAA or NASA for environmental monitoring, DoD for detection of IED (JIEDDO), the DHS for detection of explosives and scanning of luggage (TSA), etc."
A novel ion source for efficient coupling of liquid chromatography and mass spect,1R43RR031942-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,200000.00,"Masstech, Inc.",MD,,Columbia,MD,21046-2985,Yes,No,No,Richard Lee,,443-539-1742,rlee@apmaldi.com,Vadym D. Berkout,,443-539-1742,vberkout@apmaldi.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The primary objective of this proposal is to develop a novel ion source for the efficient on-line coupling of a wide array of chromatographic techniques with mass spectrometry. The use of liquid chromatography separation is a prerequisite for high-throughput mass spectrometry analysis of complex proteomics samples. Commonly used electrospray ionization (ESI), although allowing a direct coupling, imposes significant limitations on the mobile phases and additives used in LC separations. The most widely used separation technique, reversed-phase liquid chromatography, is performed in non-optimal conditions to satisfy operational requirements of the electrospray ion source. The proposed ion source will overcome these limitations and provide efficient analyte ionization from a wide range of liquid sample compositions. Thus, the ion source will allow RP-LC to perform in optimal conditions and also the use of chromatographic techniques not previously amenable by direct ESI-MS analysis. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Proteomics studies biological processes by the systematic analysis of proteins expressed in a cell or tissue. It plays an important role in modern life sciences, drug discovery, and clinical applications. We propose anew high-throughput technology for the efficient on- line coupling of a wide array of chromatographic separation techniques with mass spectrometry."
Lidar Wind Profiler for the NextGen Airportal,NNX11CB72C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599991.00,"Masstech, Inc.",MD,,Columbia,MD,21046-2985,Yes,No,No,Richard Lee,Business Official,4435391742,rlee@apmaldi.com,Anand Radhakrishnan,Principal Investigator,4435393102,anand@apmaldi.com,"The development of a standoff sensor that can measure 3D components of wind velocity in the vicinity of an airport has the potential to improve airport throughput, safety and efficiency. The goal of this research is to develop a Lidar Wind Profiler (LWP) that uses multiple near-parallel lidar beams to track the motion of atmospheric aerosol structures and extract multi-component wind data. In Phase I, the measurement requirements were analyzed and used to develop a numerical model of the performance of a prototype system. In addition, an eye safety analysis was conducted and a conceptual design of the LWP prototype was developed. Studies were conducted with a breadboard in order to demonstrate improvements in spatial and temporal resolution of the system and to obtain more data to further refine the system requirement and algorithm. In Phase II, the LWP design will be finalized and a high power laser design will be combined with narrow pulse-width generation technology as well as an Optical Parametric Oscillator in order to generate a wavelength of 1550. The algorithm will be optimized and extended to measurements in all three dimensions using a multi-beam lidar system. Techniques to extract atmospheric turbulence and detect aircraft wake vortices will be developed. A software package will be developed that will include the following: a front-end GUI for displaying the data and for interfacing with the operator; a real-time data-processing module; a data acquisition module; a data storage and retrieval module. At the end of Phase II, the LWP prototype will be field tested and evaluated using validation data from ultrasonic anemometers."
Formaldehyde Profiler Using Laser Induced Fluorescence Technique,NNX11CE88P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"Masstech, Inc.",MD,,Columbia,MD,21046-2985,Yes,No,No,Richard Lee,Chief Financial Officer,4435391742,rlee@apmaldi.com,Guangkun Li,Principal Investigator,4435393111,homer@apmaldi.com,"Formaldehyde (HCHO) is of great interest to atmospheric scientists in NASA and other research institutions. In this SBIR project, we propose to build an airborne or ground based, atmospheric formaldehyde (HCHO) profiler implementing Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) techniques. The instrument will be able to operate under the range of environmental conditions encountered during ground and airborne tests. In the phase I effort, we will breadboard system and perform a proof of concept HCHO measurement. We will also carry out a comprehensive review of the UV laser systems and identify the optimum laser for the prototype sensor. The outcome of the Phase I work will establish the feasibility of this LIF technique for high sensitivity detection of HCHO, and provide the design of the prototype sensor."
Terahertz Quantum Cascade Laser Based 3D Imaging,NNX11CC66C,NASA,NASA,STTR,2011,2,750000.00,"LongWave Photonics, LLC",MA,,Boston,MA,02129-2520,No,No,No,Alan Lee,President,3108456276,awmlee@longwavephotonics.com,Alan Lee,Principal Investigator,3108456276,awmlee@longwavephotonics.com,"LongWave Photonics proposes a terahertz quantum-cascade laser based swept-source optical coherence tomography (THz SS-OCT) system for single-sided, 3D, nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of non-conductive materials. The THz SS-OCT system uses a frequency tunable QCL array to generate an interferometric signal between a reference mirror, and a sample. An algorithm is used to transform this signal into depth information of the interfaces within the sample. Phase I demonstrated the feasibility of measuring the interfaces of a dielectric on metal sample. In Phase II, we propose to demonstrate a complete scanning system for 3D imaging by upgrading the optics and mechanics. Improvements in the power levels and frequency bandwidth of the QCL source are expected to greatly improve the depth resolution and signal to noise ratio of the system. The milliwatt power levels of the QCL are expected to result in fast scan speeds. Operation of the SS-OCT system is expected to be relatively simple as the QCL is an electrically pumped, solid state source of terahertz radiation, capable of operation in a compact, high reliability crycooler as demonstrated in Phase I."
Vision Impaired Wayfinding with Doppler Velocimeter,1R43EY021412-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,168065.00,KORONIS BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES CORPORAT,6901 E Fish Lake Road,,Maple Grove,MN,-,No,No,No,Patrick A. Lichter,,612-730-1091,plichter@koronisbiotech.com,Shane M. Anderson,,612-730-1091,sanderson@koronisbiotech.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective is to use a new innovative sensor technology called a Doppler velocimeter (DV) for solving the problem of wayfinding indoors for the vision impaired. By performing a Doppler measurement of the floor movement relative to the walking person it is possible to determine the along-track velocity, the cross-track velocity and the vertical (up or down) velocity. From this data it is possible to accurately calculate your position inside a building from a starting point at an entrance. The significant innovation in this technology over other vision impaired indoor navigation solutions is that it does not require any expensive installation of infrastructure within a building to provide wayfinding. This has the potential of having a major impact on providing a practical indoor wayfinding product for the vision impaired. Wayfinding through an unfamiliar building for persons who are blind or have low vision is a challenging task. The ability of a person to move freelywithin public and commercial buildings is an important factor for integration and independence of these individuals within educational institutions, work and social environments. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Current estimates suggest that there are12 million people in the U.S who have some form of uncorrected vision impairment, with approximately 3.4 million having low vision or legal blindness. Because of demographic trends, particularly the aging of the American population, these studies projecta doubling of these numbers by 2030. A system that provides independent navigation, including location determination and directions to a destination, is an important aspect in achieving full participation within occupational and educational settings."
Home Based Spirometer for Monitoring Lung Transplant Patients,1R43HL110531-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,158785.00,KORONIS BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES CORPORAT,6901 E Fish Lake Road,,Maple Grove,MN,-,No,No,No,Patrick A. Lichter,,612-730-1091,plichter@koronisbiotech.com,Patrick A. Lichter,,612-730-1091,plichter@koronisbiotech.com,DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Koronis Biomedical Technologies Corporation (KBT) proposes to develop a spirometer device targeted toward the needs of lung transplantation patients. Spirometers are standard care for the management of post-operative lung transplantation patients due to their high sensitivity to decreases in pulmonary function. In this project KBT will develop a spirometer equipped with a built-in link to the internet via cellular communication. Recent advances in RF electronics have ledto the emergence of low-cost small-footprint embedded cellular modems enabling the development of a spirometer that automatically and securely transmits pulmonary monitoring data to doctors and healthcare technicians. In this phase I project KBT will develop a spirometer targeting home applications enabled by an embedded cellular communication link. This novel stand-alone zero-skill approach to monitoring alleviates the user from keeping handwritten diaries or manually transmitting the data via a telephonic modem or internet connection which carries the additional burden of acquiring and maintaining a personal computer. The objective of this phase I project is to build and test a prototype cellular spirometer and develop a web based application to enable medical personnel to monitor test results. The utility of the system will be determined via an end-user study conducted with medical doctors and respiratory therapists with expertise in lung transplantation and the post-operative home management of patients.PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Recent advances in wireless communication technology enable the development of a spirometer optimized for home monitoring applications. Unlike current solutions that require users to transmit spirometer measurements via computer or modem connection the proposed solution does not require PC ownership or internet connection but instead will transmit data via a dedicated cellular modem. The creation of a zero-skill spirometer addresses an unmet need in pulmonary home monitoring.
Wearable Wireless Sensors to Monitor Aging Population,2R44AG029036-02A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1096980.00,KORONIS BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES CORPORAT,6901 E Fish Lake Road,,Maple Grove,MN,-,No,No,No,Patrick A. Lichter,,612-730-1091,plichter@koronisbiotech.com,Patrick A. Lichter,,612-730-1091,plichter@koronisbiotech.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Koronis Biomedical Technologies (KBT) proposes to develop a low-power wireless system for connecting miniature wearable sensors for continuous automatic data collection in a home setting. The proposed system will be a valuable tool for researchers/clinicians and has the potential to provide early diagnosis of changes in the aging process for clinicians. There is a significant need for minimally-invasive, non-intrusive, wearable, and cost-effective devices that can be integrated into the daily lives of the elderly. Existing measures for age-related changes and processes have a number of limitations. For example, patient questionnaires require the participant to self-report information that is highly subjective. Other technologies require the patient to perform or comply with rigid testing procedures. Yet other technologies only collect a single point of data or require invasive procedures. There is a need for sensor technology which requires little participation by the patient and provides continuous, real-time data collection. Such sensor technology would provide researchers and clinicians vital information as to the variations and rates of changes in physiological parameters during the slow progression of the aging process. This data could also be utilized in understanding and modeling health and age-related events/episodes. In this Phase II, KBT will develop an Internet based system to monitor Parkinson patients in their homes using a set of wireless sensors attached to the body to capture movement. This Internet based system will provide videoconferencing capability, remote access to data recorded from the sensors using a web-enabled smartphone, and software to analyze data recorded. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This device will support detailed human aging population studies, which support numerous research areas. There are currently no monitoring systems on the market that can provide long-term multi channel recordings in participants home and transfer data to the Clinic/Research Center."
A Low Power Wireless Pulse Oximeter Sensor for Unobtrusive Wearable Applications,1R43AG039139-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,157402.00,KORONIS BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES CORPORAT,6901 E Fish Lake Road,,Maple Grove,MN,-,No,No,No,Patrick A. Lichter,,612-730-1091,plichter@koronisbiotech.com,Patrick A. Lichter,,612-730-1091,plichter@koronisbiotech.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Koronis Biomedical Technology Corporation (KBT) proposes to develop and evaluate a miniature ultralow power pulse oximeter for long-term wearable monitoring. There continues to be a clinical need for an unobtrusive pulse oximeter sensor that is small and can be worn comfortably for extended periods of time without battery change or recharge. This program will direct development efforts towards a home based monitor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patientson long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). The benefits of long-term oxygen supplementation in COPD patients with hypoxemia are well established. Currently, the standard approach to prescribing oxygen uses a static assessment of oxygen requirements in a hospitalor clinic setting. The assumption behind this approach is that patients will maintain therapeutic hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) in the outpatient setting. Recent studies with 24 hour pulse oximetry monitoring have demonstrated that the standard prescription does not properly oxygenate most patients. Several technical challenges must be overcome to address a sensor for long-term continuous pulse oximetry monitoring. In order to design more compact sensors and improved wearable instrumentation, perhaps the most critical challenges are to develop more power efficient and low weight devices. Additionally, before wearable devices can be used effectively in the home, they must become unobtrusive and should not hinder a person's mobility. Standard finger pulse oximeters are not practical for many applications because they can interfere with normal daily tasks. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes more than 500,000 hospitalizations and more than 100,000 deaths inthe United States each year. There is a general agreement that patients with COPD who are developing chronic respiratory failure benefit from long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT)."
Prediction of Unsteady Transonic Aerodynamics,NNX11CG74P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,98868.00,AYCN LLC,1644 Clay Drive,,Los Altos,CA,-,No,No,No,David Nixon,Business Official,6509649956,davidnixon@sbcglobal.net,David Nixon,Principal Investigator,6509649956,davidnixon@sbcglobal.net,"An accurate prediction of aero-elastic effects depends on an accurate prediction of the unsteady aerodynamic forces. Perhaps the most difficult speed regime is transonic where the motion of the shock wave and its interaction with the boundary layer are dominant factors. In spite of over 40 years research into the computation of unsteady transonic aerodynamics there still appear to be areas where available technology is inadequate. A research axiom is that if a particular viewpoint fails to resolve an issue then the problem should be viewed differently. The research proposed here is to re-examine some issues in unsteady transonic aerodynamics using some recent theoretical developments. All aspects of unsteady transonic flow, including limit cycles and control strategies will be considered."
Allergens and Induced Asthma: Eradicating Indoor Allergens and Dust Mites,1R43ES019790-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,129819.00,"CARBONIX, LLC",161 PILGRIM POINT DRIVE,,LEXINGTON,SC,29072-,No,No,No,Alan M. Quick,,803-520-3830,aquick1@sc.rr.com,Allan M. Quick,,803-520-3830,aquick1@sc.rr.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Allergens and Induced Asthma: Eradicating Indoor Allergens and Dust Mites The mission of CarboNix LLC is the clinically effective abatement of common indoor allergens that cause allergic reactions and frequently induceasthma, especially in children. The focus of this project is on the dust mite. Carbonix LLC proposes a Phase I research program, leading to a commercialization of a new service business for killing dust mites in the home and preventing re-infestation. Three specific aims are proposed to demonstrate feasibility. Specific Aim 1 will demonstrate that treating carpets with our proprietary technology will physically kill dust mites. Specific Aim 2 will demonstrate that an acaricide can be incorporated in the process, penetrating carpeting and preventing mite re-infestation. Specific Aim 3 will demonstrate the Carbonix process on mattresses, the other main repository of mites in the home. The dust mite is second only to pollen in causing allergies. Reactions rangefrom itchy noses and eyes to severe and sometimes fatal asthma attacks. This is especially critical in children under age 13. This project could benefit any allergy sufferer, but is specifically aimed at minority and low-income children who are six timesmore likely to die from dust mite allergen-induced asthma. The American Lung Association estimates that 32.5 million Americans (approx. 11.2%) have been diagnosed with asthma, and 6.2 million of these are children between 5 and 17. It has been shown that most children with exacerbation of asthma have been exposed to high levels of indoor allergens, and that continuous exposure can result in readmission. The National Center for Health Statistics showed that the prevalence of asthma in minority (specificallyAfrican American and Puerto Rican) children is 40% higher than in white children. We will create a new service business, similar in operation and cost to carpet cleaning services, for families and their allergists; namely, complete removal and deactivationof dust mites from the home environment. Clinicians often employ a multiple-intervention strategy for allergy and asthma management. The new business will give practicing clinicians a new interventional tool, namely the safe and inexpensive cleaning of allergen- laden household items. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Eradication of Dust Mites and Removal of Allergens in Carpeting Asthma is a killer of children; especially those from disadvantaged homes. Many asthma attacks, especially in children, are triggered by the allergenic proteins found in dust mite feces. The proposed research focuses on a novel, clean, safe and effective approach to eradicating dust mites in carpeting and other large fabric surfaces."
Novel Method and Self Contained System for Reliable Assessment of Potency of Botu,1R43NS079215-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,686200.00,"AGRI-ANALYSIS, LLC",930 Riverside Parkway,,WEST SACRAMENTO,CA,95605-1511,No,No,No,Alan Wei,,800-506-9852,apwei@agri-analysis.com,Alan A. Wei,,800-506-9852,apwei@agri-analysis.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): To meet Agency requirement for reliable assessment of botulinum neuron toxin A (BoNT/A) in manufactured products, we propose to apply the fluorescent peptide beacon technology for measurement of both binding function and proteolytic function of the toxin in a single assay, hence from lab to marketplace . Because this is a homogenous technology, it is amendable to ease of use, portability, automation and high throughput. Here we propose to develop a series of novel fluorescent reagents, to use them in conjunction with immobilized antibodies in a self- contained system to achieve robust and high sensitivity detection of BoNT/A in complex samples. Specifically, our objectives are as follows: Specific Aim #1: Design, synthesis and testing of a novel fluorescent peptide beacon as tracer to detect the binding function of the toxin; Specific Aim #2: Design, synthesis and testing of a novel fluorogenic peptide to detect the proteolytic function of the toxin; Specific Aim #3: Design, synthesis and testing of a novel fusion peptide made of the above two peptides linked together via flexible linker to detect both functions of the toxin. Specific Aim #4: Design and develop a surface immobilization strategy and self-contained sample handling system to increase sensitivity and ease of use. Specific Aim #5: Modify an existing portable fluorescent reader/incubator to use as testbed for measuring fluorescence kinetics, and correlate such measurement with potency units. Based on our experience in working on these types of systems, we feel confident the proposed concepts would be demonstrated feasible. We hope the proposed work would lay a sound foundation to launch this project to the next stage of development, where we would establish correlation of the in vitro testing results with mouse bioassays using complex sample matrices and on developing robust instrumentation. Our long term goal is to seek FDA approval to manufacture and market this method and device for routine deployment in manufacturing plant, regulatory agencies, world health organizations, hospitals and doctor's office, border control, etc. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Botulinum Neuron Toxins (BoNTs) are a class of potent neuron toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacterium widely found in nature. While these toxins can cause diseases and casualties in events of accidental infection, food poisoning, or biological attack, they are also widely used to cure diseases and improve the quality of lives for millions of people in over 75 countries. We hereby propose to develop novel reagents and assay system to accurately measure the potency of the toxins in manufactured products to help prevent over- or under- dose. When fully developed, the system could be deployed in manufacturing plant, regulatory agencies, hospitals, and doctor's offices, world health organizations, border control, etc."
Microtechnology-Enhanced Surgical Device For Pediatric Lens Capsulotomy And Treat,1R43EY021023-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,295245.00,"MYNOSYS CELLULAR DEVICES, INC.",1061 EASTSHORE HWY. SUITE 201,,ALBANY,CA,94710-,No,No,No,Christopher G. Keller,,510-323-3151,keller@mynosys.com,Christopher Keller,,510-323-3151,keller@mynosys.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose a new interventional device that solves a significant therapeutic bottleneck in the treatment of lens cataract in children. As the leading cause of childhood blindness, lens cataract interferes with the optical performance of the eye and if untreated, results in lifelong deficits in visual perception. The first step in pediatric cataract surgery is technically the most challenging and involves the creation of a hole in the thin and highly elastic lens capsuleto provide access for the subsequent removal of the diseased lens and if needed, the implantation of an artificial lens. Due to the unique biomechanical properties of the immature lens capsule, adult procedures for creating the capsulotomy opening, if applied to infants and young children, only have a 20% chance of success. Capsule tears hinder lens removal and affect the mechanical stability and performance of artificial lens implants. Currently, pediatric cataract surgeons must make do using devices withtissue chopping functions originally designed for non-cataract surgical uses, resulting in suboptimal pediatric lens capsulotomies. In order to simplify and automate pediatric lens capsulotomies and thus enhance the delivery of vision care to young patients, we propose a micro and nanotechnology-enhanced capsulotomy device to achieve consistent results across a range of surgical skills. The device is based on a proprietary method of tissue cutting in which a microfabricated cutting ring is housed within acollapsible elastomeric housing to produce precise capsulotomies on a microsecond time scale. Our device is inserted through the standard 2.75 mm corneal incision and re-expands to produce a desired capsulotomy of 5.5 mm in diameter. In preliminary work, we have obtained proof of principle for important device functions including capsule cutting and device compressibility. In the proposed studies, we will optimize device component designs, choice of materials, and conduct engineering stress tests. Device function will also be tested using both ex vivo eye models and in a small surgical series in rabbits whose lens capsule mimics the elastic capsule of the pediatric lens. The goal of this Phase I study is the production and functional validation of an automated lens capsulotomy device suitable for extensive device safety and performance trials in Phase II. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This work seeks to develop a microtechnology and nanotechnology-enhanced surgical instrument to aid in the treatment of childhood blindness due to lens cataract. Lens cataract is the leading cause of pediatric visual disabilities, and cataract removal restores sight and improves the quality of life for both patients and their families. The proposed device simplifies and automates a technically challenging surgical task in cataract surgery."
Generating Blood-based Diagnosis for Alzheimer Disease,4R44AG035410-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1645368.00,"ADVANCED GENOMIC TECHNOLOGY, LLC","Room 118, 580 South Preston Street",,LOUISVILLE,KY,40202-1756,Yes,No,No,Eugenia Wang,,502-852-3736,ewangagt@gmail.com,Eugenia Wang,,502-852-8331,ewangagt@gmail.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The present lack of blood-based diagnosis requires AD patients to be subjected to either invasive spinal fluid (CSF) tapping, expensive MRI or PET imaging, or arduous psychological testing, all unsuitable and costly forour elderly. Strategically, we shall address this unmet need by generating systemic biomarkers detectable in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) and serum/plasma, focusing on two classes of molecules, micro- RNAs and their target genes, which generally exhibit an inverse relationship because the former noncoding RNA functions by partially repressing the latter s expression as a dimmer switch , via binding either at the co- ding region of the message, thus degrading it, or at the 3 -untranslated region, toinhibit translation. Thus, key microRNAs and their targets can serve as disease biomarkers, in see-saw balance, applicable for new diagnostics and/or therapy. Our pilot study with a small cohort of 16 AD and 16 age-matched normal elderly controls (NEC)revealed: 1. Predominant down-regulation of gene expression at the message level in AD PBMC; and 2. Correlated up-regulation of microRNA (miR) expression in PBMC of the same individuals. In this proposal, we focus on a specific up-regulated microRNA, miR-34a, whose known targets are SIRT1, cdk4, cdk6, cyclin E2, bcl2, etc. SIRT1 is a member of the 7-member Silent Information Regulator protein family. Caloric restriction extends longevity through triggering expression of SIRT1, which can also be mimicked byresveratrol, a red wine polyphenol. SIRT1 reduction is linked to accumulation of Tau and A242 production, two hallmarks of AD etiopathogenesis. Thus, we suggest that in AD there is a systemic effect detectable in PBMC and serum/plasma; up-regulated miR-34amay induce down-regulation of SIRT1, with attendant pathophysiologic results. In this proposal, we plan to generate for this see-saw of changes miR-34a/SIRT1 Target Pair Ratio (TPR) indices, to quantify both disease presence as well as progress; the indices should also provide an unprecedented evaluation of drug efficacy. This Fast-track proposal of two phases is planned with our existing small cohort study as the roadmap for the larger cohort investigation: Phase I of six months with our existing small16 AD and 16 NEC sample cohorts to: Aim 1. study possible down-regulation of miR-34a s known targets; and Aim 2. develop a feasibility study of pilot miR-34a/SIRT1 TPR-indices; and Phase II of two years with larger cohorts of 200 AD and 200 NEC participants: Aim 1.Establish a Bio-Repository of PBMC-DNA, -RNA and -protein specimens, and serum/plasma samples for assays in Aims 2 and 3; Aim 2. Generate PBMC-based miR34a/SIRT1 (and other targets) TPR indices; and Aim 3. Perform feasibility study to develop serum/plasma-based miR- 34a/SIRT1-TPR indices. Success of this project will allow us to generate PBMC- and serum-based miR-TPR indices as personalized diagnostics for AD victims, meeting an urgent need in health care, a huge gain for disease victims, their caregivers, and our society at large. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: At present, the absence of any blood-based diagnosis for Alzheimer s disease (AD) requires patients to enduring arduous neuropsychological testing, invasive cerebrospinal fluid tapping, and/or expensive MRI or PET imaging, with definitive diagnosis deferred until brain autopsy. Our preliminary findings, based on new science concerning a novel molecular species, microRNAs (miR) and their see-saw partial repression of the expression of their target gene(s), suggest that potential disease biomarkers for AD are detectable systemical- ly in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and/or serum/plasma, and may be quantified as miR-Target Pair Ra- tios (TPR). Our plan is to define AD-specific TPR indices, initially focusing on miR-34a and its target, SIRT1, whose reduction is known to be associated with increased Tau and A242, two hallmarks of AD etiopathogene- sis; our ultimate goal is a Tool-Box of TPR indices, miR-34a/SIRT1-TPR being the first suchAD diagnostic, indicating not only disease presence, but also its progress (and even drug efficacy monitoring), a huge strate- gic gain for the victims of this costly disease, and our society at large"
Development of tools to modify globin gene expression in stem cells,1R43HL106982-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,521305.00,"RETROTHERAPY, LLC",4519 GRETNA ST,,BETHESDA,MD,20814-3956,No,No,No,Lloyd G. Mitchell,,240-597-1967,lgm@retrotherapy.biz,Lloyd G. Mitchell,,301-503-1202,lgm@retrotherapy.biz,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Development of tools to modify globin gene expression in stem cells The objective of this proposal is to develop a treatment for patients with sickle cell disease. The development of methods for treating common geneticdiseases, such as sickle cell disease remains an elusive goal. Gene therapy is a technology which has the potential to overcome several of the problems in the development of a therapy for sickle cell disease. Hemoglobinopathies offer a major advantage forresearchers in that their stem cells reside in the bone marrow. They are easy to access, manipulate in the laboratory and can be given back to the patient. This proposal intends to create optimized gene expression vectors that reduce mutant sickle beta-globin protein levels while increasing the expression of another normal globin gene, thus maintaining the balance of hemoglobin protein expression that is critical to the formation of normal red blood cells. These vectors will be tested in human bone marrow stem cells to determine their potential to improve hemoglobin expression. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Patients with Sickle Cell Disease suffer from a range of many symptoms including painful sickle crises, damage to organs such as the lungs, kidneys, liver and spleen and stroke, which shorten life expectancy to the mid-40's. At present there is no curative treatment for majority of patients with this common genetic disease. Although there are a number of possible treatments currently under investigationwhich may reduce the disease complications or offer the potential of a cure, this proposal seeks to develop a new therapeutic approach that has demonstrated potential in models of other genetic diseases."
Novel Manufacturing Processes for Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts,2R44DK085760-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1189820.00,"HUMACYTE, INC.",PO BOX 12695,,RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK,NC,27709-,Yes,No,No,Shannon L. Dahl,,919-313-9633,dahl@humacyte.com,Shannon L. Dahl,,919-597-6625,dahl@humacyte.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Phase II SBIR application is responsive to Program Announcement PA-09- 113, Manufacturing Processes of Medical, Dental and Biological Technologies . This PA solicits work on technology for the manufacture of implantable devices and materials, prosthetic organs, and artificial tissues . Humacyte has developed a novel vascular graft that has shown excellent function in large animal models. The graft is made by culturing allogeneic human smooth muscle cells in a bioreactor to produce an engineered vascular tissue. This engineered tissue is then carefully decellularized, so as to remove the immunogenic cellular components, while retaining the collagenous extracellular matrix. These grafts have the advantage of being non-living, and hence can be stored on the shelf for periods of up to 9 months. Vascular dialysis grafts that are 6 mm in diameter function well in a baboon model of arterio-venous grafting, and are resistant to two important failure modes of synthetic dialysis grafts: thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia. This SBIR application is directed at scaling the manufacture of this exciting and novel engineered tissue. In our Phase I proposal, our aim was the construction and testing of a prototype, disposable vasculargraft bioreactor. In this Phase II proposal, we will build on our successful Phase I work, and we will refine and build a scaled-up manufacturing system that will enable cost-effective production of our unique, off-the-shelf vascular graft for dialysis access. This pilot scaled system will also be applicable to the manufacture of other types of engineered tissues, and hence will benefit the regenerative medicine field as a whole. We will hone the single-use bioreactor system and in parallel, we will definerapidly consumed components of culture medium and develop a strategy to supplement those limiting factors, thereby reducing overall culture medium usage. Together, these strategies will allow us to produce a scaled, economical manufacturing system. Dialysis grafts produced in the scaled system will be assessed using standard assays for graft biochemical extracellular matrix composition, cell viability, mechanical integrity, as well as graft in vivo function in a primate model. The results of these studieswill contribute to the submission of an IND application to the FDA. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This Phase II SBIR application addresses a critical need in regenerative medicine: the development of scaled manufacturing systems that produce engineeredtissues in a reproducible and economical fashion."
Correlating TCR diversity to immune reconstitution after cord blood transplant,1R43HL106868-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,148999.00,ADAPTIVE TCR CORPORATION,1551 Eastlake Avenue East,Suite 200,SEATTLE,WA,98102-,No,No,No,Jessica Andriesen,,206-659-0067,jandriesen@adaptivetcr.com,Robert J. Livingston,,206-659-0656,rlivingston@adaptivetcr.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this Phase I project is to develop a method to objectively measure immune reconstitution following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using direct sequencing of the T-cell repertoire. This method willbe developed using data from patients treated with stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord blood (CB) has emerged as an effective source of stem cells and has several advantages over conventional stem cell sources. However, cord bloodrecipients are at significant risk of delayed hematopoietic recovery and immune reconstitution, and thus appear to have higher susceptibility to infections, particularly from viral pathogens. The high rate of infections is associated with an alarming levelof morbidity and mortality. At present, there is no objective measurement available for clinicians to determine the extent of immune reconstitution in transplant patients, and there are risks and side-effects associated with treatments currently used to prevent infections. The ability to measure immune reconstitution will relieve clinicians and their patients of the burdens associated with excessive, or insufficient, prophylactic treatments. Herein, we propose to utilize our high-throughput TCR sequencing assay to quantify the T-cell repertoire over time in individuals who have undergone cord blood transplantation. We will establish the correlation between the T-cell repertoire and reconstitution of clinical immunity. The ability to simultaneously sequence millions of individual T-cell receptor genes in single individuals provides, for the first time, the potential to directly observe changes in the immune repertoire, and this could allow clinicians to make better informed decisions about patient care.PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The goal of this Phase I project is to develop a method to objectively measure immune reconstitution following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using direct sequencing of the T cell repertoire. This method will be developed using umbilical cord blood transplant data, but will be relevant and beneficial to the broader transplantation field."
TAS::75 0849::TAS TOPIC 255: A TARGETED DRUG FOR NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER,N43CO110094,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,176266.00,"CELEK PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC",119 UPSHIRE CIR,,GAITHERSBURG,MD,20878-5215,No,No,No,Graham Allaway,,301-452-6452,GALLAWAY@CELEKPHARMA.COM,Graham Allaway,,301-452-6452,GALLAWAY@CELEKPHARMA.COM,"CEL-031 is being developed as a novel, targeted tre8tment for non-mLiscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Bladder cancer is the 5th most common cancer in the US, with most cases diagnosed 8t the nonmuscle invasive stage. It is the most expensive cancerto treDt on a per patient basis. There is 8 significant need for more effective and less toxic therapies for NMIBC. CEl-03'1 8Cts through a novelmech()nism of action to selectively kill bladder cancer cells. It does tl1is by targeting certain enzymes that are overexpressed in these cells. In clinical trials, CEl-03'1 WDS well tolemted with preJiminmy evidence of effic8cy 8gainst advanced cancers. However, efficacy was limited by poor ora! bioavailnbi lity. CEl-031 should demonstrate greater efficacy against NI\l1IBC, since it ViiI! be delivered by bladder instillation, thereby minimizing drug metabolism nnd protein binding issues. This project will investigate the effect of CEl-03"" on bladder tumor cells and test for potential synergy in combination\Nith oUler drugs. A liquid formulation will be developed, which will be used to test CEl-031's efficacy in 8 mouse bladder C8ncer model. If these studies are sllccessful, a proof-of-concept clinical study of CEl-03'! in NMIBC patients viill be initiatedduring the Phase II SBIR project"
SBIR Phase I: Sensors for indoor air quality,1046384,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,Dioxide Materials,60 Hazelwood Dr,,champaign,IL,-,No,No,No,Rich Masel,PhD,2172391400,rich.masel@dioxidematerials.com,Rich Masel,,2172391400,rich.masel@dioxidematerials.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a miniature gas chromatography system that can detect pollutants in homes and businesses and interface to an HVAC system for indoor air quality (IAQ) control. The device will use air as a carrier gas, and will be priced so it is affordable in the home environment. The Phase I effort will concentrate on the columns and detectors for the systems. The goal of the Phase I project is to create a new class of GC columns than can be manufactured for less than $1/meter, compared to $20/meter presently charged. The project will also develop new reversible nano-tube detectors based on a newly discovered process entitled current stimulated desorption. The broader/commercial impacts of this research are addressing the concern that homes and businesses contain toxic substances such as formaldehyde, toluene, microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), and volatile organic compounds. These pollutants can be a serious health hazard. Dioxide Materials, Inc. is working with the world's largest producer of HVAC systems, and HVAC controls. The idea is to include a pollutant detector as part of the HVAC controls and adjust ventilation rates and make other changes if pollutants are detected. It is projected that this will be a substantial market if the technical risks are overcome. The devices will also have considerable application in the analytical chemistry market. Dioxide Materials, Inc. expects to be able to reduce the cost of a GC column by an order of magnitude. That will open many new applications."
Catalysts For Electrochemical Conversion Of CO2,DE-FG02-10ER86437,DOE,DOE,STTR,2011,2,750000.00,Dioxide Materials,60 Hazelwood Dr,,champaign,IL,-,No,No,No,Tim Hoerr,Mr.,2178195201,tim.hoerr@cbana.com,Richard I. Masel,Dr.,2173336841,rich.masel@cbana.com,"The object of the proposed work is to develop better processes for the electrochemical conversion of CO2 into a high value chemical in a growing market. CO2 is one of the key causes of global warming. If we can recycle CO2 back into useful products, than the costs of meeting the Nations global warming goals will be substantially reduced. Presently, the use of CO2 feedstocks is limited by the availability of practical catalysts for CO2 conversion. An electrochemical process for the production of this chemical has already been demonstrated at the pilot plant scale by another company, but it was not economically feasible because the catalysts and cell designs were insufficient. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: In the proposed work, we will develop better catalysts for the production of our target chemical from CO2. Recent advances from Professor Masel and Professor Keniss laboratory at the University of Illinois provide evidence that much better catalysts and cell designs are feasible. We wish to prove these designs during the SBIR efforts."
Continuous Indoor Vapor Intrusion Monitoring System for Volatile Organic Compounds,FA9301-11-M-E010,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,Dioxide Materials,60 Hazelwood Dr,,champaign,IL,-,No,No,No,Rich Masel,CEO,(217) 239-1400,richmasel@gmail.com,Rich Masel,CEO,(217) 239-1400,rich.masel@dioxidematerials.com,"ABSTRACT: The AF has a need for vapor intrusion alarms. Dioxide proposes a device that uses a preconcentrator, microGC and novel detector. The device will use The TO-15/17 protocol to scan for the compounds of interest to the air force. BENEFIT: This device will be useful for indoor air quality control for a number of applications."
"Software Portal Hosting, Distribution&Brokerage Service",HR0011-11-9-0003,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,749542.00,Nimbis Services Inc.,1616 Anderson Rd.,,McLean,VA,22102-1602,No,No,No,Robert Graybill,President&CEO,(703) 286-0770,robert.graybill@nimbisservices.com,Mark Gray,VP of Engineering Operati,(703) 268-0770,mark.gray@nimbisservices.com,"Nimbis Services Inc. proposes to provide an open portal development environment for developers, hosting service for the portal products and end user web based ecommerce access, integrated with Nimbis Services current brokerage service, that will broaden the use of digital analysis computing or model based simulation by tier 2-4 supply chain manufacturers. The goal of expanded usage will be accomplished by encouraging the development of new digital manufacturing model based simulation applications and domain specific portals by developers/entrepreneurs and the increasing accessibility/use of these new resources on an as needed basis. This business model is often called""software-as-a service""SAAS but in this case, focused on the periodic and experimental needs of the supply companies. The end commercial product will be a tightly integrated turn-key commercial package, incorporating developer""s portal development environment, hosting service for the new domain specific portal/software application products and end user low barrier access to a web based ecommerce digital manufacturing portal store front."
Calculating target bias in small molecules for library design,1R43GM097912-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,250241.00,"SEACHANGE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.",3031 Tisch Way,,SAN JOSE,CA,95128-2532,No,No,No,Michael J. Keiser,,415-937-1732,mkeiser@seachangepharma.com,Michael J. Keiser,,415-937-1732,mkeiser@seachangepharma.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Goals: The goal is to develop a computational system to predict the targets toward which small molecules are biased. The tool will optimize biased libraries, prioritize them for testing against particular targets, identify targets in phenotypic screens, and allow users to easily move from compounds to targets. Significance: The tool would allow investigators to easily identify small molecules to modulate a target. It also would allow them to build libraries that are biased toward such targets. Users of the tool include investigators looking to quickly access biological molecules for their targets, companies interested in building libraries biased toward such targets, and vendors looking to expand the usefulness of libraries that they sell. A motivation is a tool that can rapidly bring chemical matter to biologists. Theory/Background: We and others have shown that it is possible to predict previously unknown off- targets for drugs. Our Similarity Ensemble Approach (SEA)uses chemical structure to predict targets for any molecule by associating that molecule with similar patterns found in ligands annotated to protein targets. Whereas many commercially available molecules have no target linkage, on average for any given vendor we predict that about T of them do. Aim 1. To develop a service to assign targets to small molecules in large libraries. We will build a system that will allow users to query a library of small molecules, asking one of two questions. a. For a given target, what small molecules in this library would be expected to modulate it? b. For a given library, on what targets are its molecules most likely to work? Milestone: The essential features of this system exist, and proof of principle has been demonstrated in predicting new targets for over 25 drugs using SEA. Here we broaden the method to enable use by non- experts on large compound libraries. There are two pragmatic milestones. i. Experimentally testing predicted compound-target associations to demonstrate feasibility. ii. Development of a web-interface that can be integrated with vendor catalogs. Aim 2. To develop a service that can optimize a library for target coverage. a. Given a particular library size, can we optimize it to cover the maximum number of pharmacologically relevant targets? b. Correspondingly, can we optimize a library for the maximum target bias? Milestone: This method is essentially in hand, but has not been tested. We will work with our commercial partners to optimize their libraryfor target coverage, demonstrating this by predicting and experimentally testing molecules for target activity (six months). Aim 3. To predict the targets for compounds active in phenotypic and animal assays. A recent development in pharmaceutical research and chemical biology has been the rediscovery of phenotypic, even whole organism screens for compound activity, frequently using modified cells or organisms that carry a known disease-associated genotype. A core challenge is identifying the molecular targets responsible for the observed phenotype. Indeed, our partners in pharma indicate that they can have hundreds of related compounds with activity in cells, tissues, organs or animal models, but do not know the actual molecular targets, limiting mechanistic understanding and optimization. We will use SEA to predict targets for these active molecules. Milestone: In collaboration with a pharmaceutical partner, we will predict targets for a compound series with animal model activity, but for which targets remain unknown. Initially we anticipate testing ten such compounds in receptor-binding assays. Whereas these goals are ambitious, extensive preliminary results suggest that they are feasible. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Investigators often test large numbers of compounds to discover a chemical starting point for a new drug. In this proposal we focus on providing a tool to predict which commercially-available compounds are most likely to be active at therapeutic targets. This saves time and money by reducing the number of compounds investigators need to test during early-stage drug discovery."
Artificial Tissue Matrices for Bone Repair,N00014-11-M-0115,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,62584.00,"MYOMETRICS, LLC",216 Howard Street,,New London,CT,-,No,No,No,James O'Malley,Owner,(860) 884-4070,jpomalley@myometrics.com,James O'Malley,Owner,(860) 884-4070,jpomalley@myometrics.com,"The injuries to warfighters caused by Improved Explosive Devices and snipers are often associated with significant loss of long and/or maxillofacial bones. Effective treatment and recuperation necessitates the replacement of these missing bone structures. We are developing a device which once implanted into the injury defect will strongly stimulate osteogenesis and ultimately be resorbed and replaced by the patient""s own bone over one to four months, depending on the size of the injury. By stimulating de novo bone formation and filling the defect with the patient""s own bone many of the post operative complications associated with current therapies will be overcome. This treatment is currently being developed for flat bones such as cranium and maxillofacial, however it will also be effective in long bone. In addition the bioactive component of this device can be applied to prosthetics to increase osseointegration to increase both the rate and quality of recovery."
SBIR Phase I: Nondestructive Inspection and Monitoring System for Curved Structures,1046322,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,"Farus, LLC",1240 Keystone Way,,Vista,CA,92081-8317,No,No,No,Rahul S. Singh,PhD,3103464781,rssingh@farusllc.com,Rahul S. Singh,,3103464781,rssingh@farusllc.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will explore, design, and implement a novel flexible ultrasound transducer-based nondestructive inspection and monitoring system to improve and simplify the inspection of curved and non-planar structures. Ultrasound is ideally suited to detection of internal flaws in hard materials, but existing systems are limited to planar or nearplanar surfaces. Flexible ultrasound transducer arrays are an emerging technology that can potentially enable rapid inspection of curved structures, while maintaining high angular coverage, high resolution and a large field of view. The proposed system will feature flexible transducer arrays that wrap and conform to curved structures as well as a novel damage index detection algorithm, which together will allow for early detection and monitoring of defects in curved materials before catastrophic failure. Initial development will target two important applications: curved composite aerospace structures and steel oil pipelines. The initial system will be a low cost, portable, handheld device capable of rapid, accurate non-destructive inspection of nonplanar structures. The system will also be designed for adaptation to remote monitoring in harsh environments. The proposed project is an innovative systems engineering approach that fills a significant unmet need in the energy, aerospace, and military sectors. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is focused on two industries in particular, the oil and aerospace industries. Both would significantly benefit from a system that could rapidly, efficiently, and accurately inspect and monitor curved surfaces. The application of composite materials has been increasing rapidly for contoured aero structures in the civilian and military aerospace industries, such missile systems, the new Boeing 787, and many Airbus models; however composite materials are highly susceptible to hidden flaws and impact-related damage sometimes resulting in catastrophic failure. Similarly curved steel oil pipelines are subject to corrosion and fatigue damage, especially in harsh environments such as frozen, desert, and underwater environments. The incidence of ruptures is likely to occur more frequently as pipeline infrastructure across the world continues to age. A flexible ultrasound transducer-based system featuring near autonomous signal detection algorithms that can wrap conformally around curved structures would have a large market in the aerospace, energy, and military sectors and may lead to a prevention of impact-related failure in aircraft and missile systems, as well as a reduction of blowouts in oil pipelines."
"Conformal, Portable External Fetal Heart Monitor",1R43HD069079-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,150001.00,"Farus, LLC",1240 Keystone Way,,Vista,CA,92081-8317,No,No,No,Martin Culjat,,310-869-5504,mculjat@farusllc.com,Martin Culjat,,310-869-5504,mculjat@farusllc.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): External fetal heart monitors (FHM) allow for intermittent or continuous monitoring of fetal status both before and during labor, and reduce medical costs by allowing fewer nurses or midwives to manage larger number patients. However, current external FHMs are cumbersome in design, leading a significant negative impact on patient comfort and mobility. External FHMs are rigid, require straps to maintain their position on the abdomen, and are typically tethered to a largefetal monitoring system. During continuous monitoring, the patient's movements and positions are considerably restricted, so as not to perturb the position of the FHM and compromise the fidelity of the fetal heart rate signal. Loss of the fetal heartrate signal leads to false alarms and unnecessary patient anxiety. In addition, the false alarms result in increased medical costs, due to the need for nurses or midwives to frequently reposition the transducer on the abdomen. Farus, in collaboration with Tenacore Holdings, proposes to assess the feasibility of a vastly improved FHM that will improve patient care, eliminate the need for repositioning, and in turn reduce medical costs. The improved FHM will be soft and conformal, improving patient comfort comparedto rigid probes. More importantly, a conformal FHM will better maintain positioning on the abdomen even during movement of the patient, therefore allowing the patient improved freedom of movement and reducing the shifting of the transducer positioning andloss of the fetal heartbeat. Further, the improved FHM will incorporate wireless telemetry, including a lightweight battery-operated system, eliminating the need for cabling to the fetal monitor. The light weight and flexibility of the conformal FHM willalso enable the use of adhesion methods that can eliminate the use of adjustable straps. Together, we believe these innovations will significantly improve patient comfort, acceptance, mobility, and satisfaction, and reduce alarm rates and labor costs associated with patient monitoring. Discussions with clinicians, patients, and customers have indicated that the conformal, wireless technology would address a long-ignored need in the 65M+ external fetal heart monitoring market. Farus has extensive development experience with flexible ultrasound devices and systems, and Tenacore is a leading manufacturer and supplier of rigid FHMs to over 1200 hospitals in both the U.S. and Europe. We believe the combined experience will lead to the successful design and development and a relatively straightforward path to market. The objective of this Phase I SBIR effort is to demonstrate the feasibility of the conformal, wireless FHM approach. Three Specific Aims will be conducted to meet the objective: (1) fabrication a conformal FHM; (2) implementation of a wireless telemetry and adhesion system; and (3) acoustic testing of the conformal FHM to ensure predicted and consistent performance and compliance with FDA safety regulations. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Current external fetal heart monitors (FHM) are rigid, require straps to maintain their position on the abdomen, and are typically tethered to a cart-based fetal monitoring system. The cumbersome design of existing external FHMs has a significant negative impact on patient comfort and mobility and causes shifting of the FHM on the abdomen and frequent loss of the fetal heartrate signal. This Phase I SBIR proposes to assess the feasibility of a conformal, wireless FHM that may improve freedom of movement, reduce falsealarms and patient anxiety, and reduce labor costs associated with patient monitoring."
Development of a Robust Sensory Feedback System for Persons with Lower-Limb Sensory Deficits,H133S110053,ED,ED,SBIR,2011,2,500000.00,"Farus, LLC",1240 Keystone Way,,Vista,CA,92081-8317,No,No,No,,,,,"Martin Culjat,",,(310) 869-5504,mculjat@farusllc.com,"This project develops a system to provide auxiliary sensory feedback in the lower limbs of amputees and enhance sensory function for individuals with disabilities through functional capacity and thereby improve their mobility and quality of life. The Farus sensory feedback system detects force loads at the base of the foot or prosthesis and translates this force, via pneumatic control system, to pressures on the upper thigh using tactile balloon actuators. By providing tactile stimuli on the skin of the upper leg, the system uses a novel information feedback pathway. During Phase I of this project, Farus built on the foundation of the prior research effort by designing a sensory feedback system that is practical for activities of daily living. During Phase II this project finalizes the system design, fabricates multiple systems for clinical use, and examines system efficacy through biomechanical clinical trials."
Non-Radiological Imaging Devices for Combat Casualty Care Associated with Burn,W81XWH-11-C-0104,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,"Farus, LLC",1240 Keystone Way,,Vista,CA,92081-8317,No,No,No,Holly Chung,Contracts and Grants Administrator,(310) 694-6014,hchung@farusllc.com,Rahul Singh,President,(310) 346-4781,rssingh@farusllc.com,"Farus, LLC proposes to develop a novel burn assessment tool based upon THz imaging that will be aid in determining severity and boundaries. THz is ideally suited to burn wound imaging because it is extremely sensitive to water, robust to scattering, non-ionizing, and does not require contrast agents. A complete THz imaging system developed by a UCLA research team successfully scanned skin burns on ex vivo porcine and in vivo rat models, producing high resolution images. The results of these studies are highly encouraging and demonstrate an ability to accurately measure burn severity and the progression of the local inflammatory response over time. If these results could be translated to the clinical environment, treatment of burn injuries may potentially improve and act as means to rapidly quantify the severity of burn injuries. While promising, the UCLA system has mostly been limited to imaging of near-planar surfaces and is not commercially viable.. Farus proposes to leverage the UCLA work to fully develop an alpha prototype for imaging burns using THz. The purpose of this phase I SBIR is to produce a complete and optimized system design to be built and used in Phase II for large animal and human trials."
Application of Finger-Mounted Ultrasound Array Probes,W81XWH-10-C-0023,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,779926.00,"Farus, LLC",1240 Keystone Way,,Vista,CA,92081-8317,No,No,No,Martin Culjat,Vice President,(310) 869-5504,mculjat@farusllc.com.com,Rahul Singh,PresidentPresident,(310) 346-4781,rssingh@farusllc.com,"Ultrasound guidance procedures, such as central line placement and needle biopsy, require considerable skill to precisely position a needle while simultaneously holding a transducer. Finger-mounted ultrasound (FMUS) transducer array probes may potentially improve the workflow requirements of ultrasound-guided techniques by allowing an unassisted operator to use one hand to image, palpate, immobilize, and assist with the line placement. FMUS can provide a rapid real-time imaging capability to the physician for urgent or planned central line placement, improve efficiency of the procedure, and decrease the complication rate. Farus proposes to develop a flexible FMUS transducer array and imaging system that can provide high resolution imagery of vascular structures for needle guidance procedures. This design allows the probe to conform to both the finger and the patient""s body surface, while providing high resolution imagery with improved coupling and high angular coverage. This design also allows the transducer to operate in curved linear, linear, and concave conformal modes, each with a varying field of view, depth, and resolution. This Phase II effort will focus on the development and demonstration of a functional FMUS system prototype, performance of regulatory and safety testing, and implementation of a field trial to validate system performance."
Diagnostic Biomarkers for Radicular Pain,9R44AR060676-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1601880.00,CYTONICS CORPORATION,555 HERITAGE DRIVE,SUITE 115,JUPITER,FL,33458-5285,No,No,No,Raymond B. Johnson,,561-714-4894,Ray.Johnson@Cytonics.com,Lewis S. Hanna,,561-575-4451,Lewis.Hanna@Cytonics.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is a proposal to collect the necessary data for FDA regulatory approval of the Cytonics assay as a diagnostic tool to identify patients who will respond to steroid injection therapy for LBP due to radiculopathy. Low back pain (LBP) syndromes include spinal degenerative conditions with and without nerve root or cauda equina irritation. These syndromes represent some of the most common reasons for patients to seek medical attention. LBP syndromes associated with neurological irritation are often effectively treated, whereas those not primarily associated with neurological irritation have proven resistant. The greatest current challenge in the clinical care of patients with LBP syndromes is identifying those who sufferfrom active neurological irritation and therefore may benefit from interventional therapies, such as corticosteroid injection (ESI). However, there is currently no validated test to discriminate between patients who will or will not respond to ESI. For example, only ~50% of the gt10 million yearly epidural steroid injections successfully relieve pain. Many patients that don't respond to initial steroid injections will receive follow-up injections at the same or a different spinal location. These unnecessaryinjections are costly and have side effects. In Phase I, we developed and validated an assay that can prospectively identify patients who will respond to steroid treatment. Our Specific Aim in Phase II is to collect the necessary data for FDA regulatory approval of the Cytonics assay as a diagnostic tool to identify patients who will respond to steroid injection therapy for LBP due to radiculopathy. To achieve this Objective, we will carry out the following Tasks: Task #1: Validate our assay to meet FDA manufacturing guidelines. Task #2: Carry out a large prospective study appropriate for obtaining PMA clearance using our validated assay. Task #3: Prepare and submit a PMA to the FDA. The assay will be sold as a kit, complete with all of the reagents required for the assay. We will provide the diagnostic kit to CLIA labs that are interested in providing the testing service, many of which will be located in surgical hospitals or outpatient centers. We will utilize a network of medical product distributors to provide information on the diagnostic to spine surgeons, neurologist, and pain management specialists in an effort to encourage the use of the test for their patients. We will also publish and present extensively on results of using our product. Phase II will result in a diagnostic assay to be submitted for FDA approval. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This is a project to develop a diagnostic assay that helps physicians know when to use steroid injections for treating back pain. Currently, 10 million such injections are made each year at a cost of about 2000 per injection. Half of the injections are ineffective. Our assay will allow physicians to know when a patient will not respond to an injection, thereby avoiding the needless injections and saving about10 billion dollars per year in ineffective treatments, as well as allowing the physician to focus on treating the patient more effectively."
Differentiation of Leishmania in the Sand fly Vector,W81XWH-11-C-0058,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,69478.00,"NEXOGEN, INC.",9412 Maler Rd.,,San Diego,CA,92129,No,No,No,Dalibor Hodko,CEO,(858) 657-0270,dhodko@nexogentech.com,Elizabeth Mather,P.I.,(858) 657-0270,bmather@nexogentech.com,"Multiplex assays will be developed for identifying Leishmania from sand flies and for determining the species of the parasites. A multiplex PCR will be developed to amplify the gene loci needed to distinguish the closely related species of the pathogenic species. Analysis of the PCR products will be performed on an electronic microarray, a method that is well suited for the rapid analysis of complex gene products. Electronic addressing of the target and hybridization occurs within 1 2 minutes. This method allows high levels of multiplex analysis and is excellent at detecting point mutations as well deletions/insertions. The assay will be adapted to a small, inexpensive point-ofcare instrument that will integrate the nucleic acid sample preparation with amplification and the electronic microarray detection. This approach offers a rapid method of detection coupled with high levels of multiplexing which will facilitate the identification of multiple species of pathogenic Lieshmania and allow them to be distinguished from the non-pathogenic species with which they coexist in the environment. The combination of automated sample preparation with rapid PCR and rapid detection method will allow a time to result of less than 4 hours making this assay suitable for use in small labs or remote locations."
SBIR Phase I: Laser Assisted Nanotechnology-Sensor For Cost Effective Use In Fish Processing To Determine Mercury Levels In Fish Flesh Or Other Substances,1047444,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,DAHL NATURAL,19315 SW CHESAPEAKE DR.,,TUALATIN,OR,-,No,No,No,Anne M. Schwartz,MS,5099547532,schwartzspk@earthlink.net,Anne M. Schwartz,,5099547532,schwartzspk@earthlink.net,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will substantially and rapidly increase environmental and food safety by testing the feasibility of using carbon nano-tube covered sensors to electrochemically detect the amount of mercury in substances such as water or fish, by vaporizing a small spot of the substance to determine mercury levels in each sample as it is being processed. The resulting technology will be expanded to detect the amount of other heavy metals and commercialized. The effects of methyl mercury on human health are devastating. This work enables Dahl Natural to bridge the gap for real-time, remote, automated heavy metal testing. The broader commercial impacts of this research are to enable access to real-time, low cost, accurate measurement of heavy metals in food, water and other substances to 500ppt/L sensitivity. This work will eliminate many unique challenges of in-situ measurement so processes and strategies can be developed to reduce heavy metal contamination. This technology is needed by industries, researchers, government agencies, Tribal groups, and addresses a $1 billion market. Testing takes 2-3 minutes and data from the device can be printed for bar codes, tags or sent electronically to a data base. The cost-savings of this technology is $150.00 per test, estimated at500 W-hr/kg for long duration UUV missions. The room temperature oxygen storage composition makes UUV refueling simple and straight forward for rapid mission turnaround with no need to open any hull joints. The approach is projected to meet required storage, operational, and safety requirements."
High Temperature Survivability Coating Materials with Innovative Application Processes,N68936-11-C-0009,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,750000.00,MAST Technologies,6370 Nancy Ridge Drive,Suite 103,San Diego,CA,92121-,No,No,No,Mike Vanderby,Operations Manager,(858) 452-1700,m.vanderby@masttechnologies.com,Andrew Sundsmo,President,(858) 452-1700,a.sundsmo@masttechnologies.com,"In the Phase I effort MAST Technologies developed a variety of high temperature coatings that meet or exceed survivability at 680 degrees F for 10 minutes or 1300 degrees F for 10 minutes. 680 degrees F materials are elastomeric in nature and can function as EMI/RF shielding, low dielectric layer, thermally insulating, or ablative overcoat materials. A high-build spray-on formula was developed to address low dielectric layer and thermally insulating materials with survivability at 1300 degrees F. In Phase II MAST Technologies will further characterize, validate, and prototype the materials developed in Phase I. Material integration research and development will be performed to establish processes for bonding, vulcanization, and co-cure bonding of developed elastomers to mock airframe components. Material characterization and validation steps will be taken to further define the mechanical, electrical, thermal, and environmental properties of applicable materials. Manufacturing research and development will allow for efficient, cost-effective scale-up of compression molding, casting, calendaring, and spray processes. Prototype parts will be fabricated and delivered to the customer per application-specific electrical, thermal, and dimensional requirements for further qualification. Throughout Phase II MAST Technologies will focus on transitioning qualified materials to commercialization for use in a multitude of military and commercial applications."
Structural Health Monitoring of Submersible Navy Composites,N00167-11-P-0446,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79980.00,"Hi-Test Laboratories, Inc",P.O. Box 87,1104 Arvon Rd.,Arvonia,VA,23004-,No,No,Yes,Ed Eggleton,Manager of Contracts,(434) 581-3204,ed.eggleton@hitestlabs.com,William Gregory,Principal Engineer,(434) 607-5422,william.gregory@hitestlabs.com,"The use of composite structural elements continues to expand across Naval Surface Ship and Submarine shipbuilding programs as advancements in design/analysis and research provide viable alternatives to current baseline material systems. To support life-cycle implications of using composites in a US Navy Submarine application, this proposal supports the initial Phase I development of a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system capable of detecting and characterizing damage in submersible composite non-pressure hull components. SHM is the scientific process of non-destructively identifying four characteristics related to the fitness of a structural system: (a) the operational and environmental loads that act on the structure; (b) the structural damage that is caused by that loading; (c) the growth of damage as the structure continues to be subjected to operational and environmental loads; and (d) the future performance of the structure as damage accumulates. This proposal assumes the SHM system should be compatible with VARTM and OVB fabrication processes, as well as compatible with carbon and glass systems with vinyl ester or epoxy resins. The intent of these initial efforts will be to first determine if the prescribed sensor system can be viably integrated into the composite structure, then to subject test specimens to representative wave slap, hydrostatic, impact and shock loading to determine if that system can not only survive these extreme loads, but continue to provide meaningful data throughout these events."
Intelligent Ridesharing for a new Mobility,DTRT57-11-C-10031,DOT,DOT,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"Axiom xCell, Inc.",11118 Saunders Ct.,,San Diego,CA,92131-1312,No,No,No,Ray Traynor,Vice President GM,(858) 717-9431,ray@axiomxcell.com,Ray Traynor,Vice President GM,(858) 717-9431,ray@axiomxcell.com,"The development of a wireless mobile cloud platform that includes dynamic ride matching; utilizing in-vehicle systems and user interface; with supporting connectivity to social networks and HOV/HOT lane tolling infrastructure"" will create a critical enhancement to enable an increase in ridesharing on the nation’s roadways.The objective of this Phase I research project is the development of a concept of operations that demonstrates the viability and interoperability of a mobile application that enables hands-free non-distracting dynamic ride matching to help facilitate more ridesharing. The proposed solution integrates multiple social networks to generate rideshare partners in real-time and unleashes new innovative mechanisms for delivering incentives; it includes GPS navigation; SMS; and leverages in-vehicle resources and mobile-to-mobile connectivity to detect and communicate reliable vehicle occupancy data with HOV/HOT lanes tolling infrastructure all in a hands-free non-distracted fashion. The work includes coordination with key stakeholders including toll authorities; state and local rideshare agency; in-vehicle platform provider and rideshare solutions providers. During Phase II a working prototype of the solution will be built and demonstrated and will include hands-free in-vehicle ride matching and will operate using commuters along the Interstate 15 Managed Lanes in coordination with state and local agency ride sharing programs."
SBIR Phase I: Novel volumetric efficient design and packaging of a broadband integrated circulator-antenna (BICA),1047120,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149615.00,Metamagnetics Inc.,480 Neponset Street,12B,Canton,MA,02021-1938,No,No,No,Andrew Daigle,PhD,7815620756,daigle@metamagneticsinc.com,Andrew Daigle,,7815620756,daigle@metamagneticsinc.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project pursues the development of a novel volumetric efficient broadband integrated circulator antenna (BICA) module for wireless and satellite communication as well as radar applications. Metamagnetics proposes to leverage its expertise in advanced metamaterials and textured ferrite composite development to realize a broadband electronic bandgap (EBG) metamaterial as a means for achieving a dramatic profile reduction (20, and tan & #948; & #8804; 0.05. In order to achieve operation at L-band, tuning of the cutoff frequency with magnetic fields of the order of 100-200 Oe will be employed. Further, broadband antenna and EBG metamaterials will be co-designed as a single component to enhance the antenna assembly performance, with bandwidths>40%, efficiency>60%, beam width of 100˘Ş, and gains close to that of Chu's Limit. The development of advanced ferrite metamaterials represents a highly innovative and enabling advance in low profile antenna technologies. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes addressing the needs of both commercial and Department of Defense (DoD) markets. The proposed dual use low profile antenna technology holds the promise of significant performance improvements in height, weight, and aerodynamic drag reduction over current state-of-the-art technologies in wireless, satellite communication, and radar systems. The success of this Phase I project in improving the bandwidth and increasing volumetric efficiency of radio frequency front ends has an enormous potential to impact commercial communications and DoD industries and to stimulate the U.S. economy by producing advanced technologies and, importantly, high-skilled jobs. A recent global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) market report found the global value of GNSS products and services, currently at $3 billion, will grow at a compound annual growth rate between 19 percent and 23 percent, and reach $6 to $8 billion by 2012. This Phase I effort will be performed by a veteran-owned small-business. Employees include a woman as minority-owner and Chief Operating Officer and two students actively pursuing engineering doctorates. As part of this program, the students will be trained in all aspects of metamaterial and antenna design."
Advanced ferrite materials for next generation high power microwave (HPM) generation systems,N00014-10-M-0421,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99900.00,Metamagnetics Inc.,480 Neponset Street,12B,Canton,MA,02021-1938,No,No,No,Elaine Trudell,Program Manager,(781) 636-8275,trudell@metamagneticsinc.com,Anton Geiler,Principal Investigator,(617) 373-3459,geiler@metamagneticsinc.com,"Metamagnetics Inc. proposes to leverage its expertise in the development, synthesis and characterization of advanced ferrites for RF, microwave and millimeter-wave applications to identify, analyze and address the ferrite materials challenges pertaining to high power microwave (HPM) generation systems developed in recent years. Measurement techniques that assess the performance of commercially available ferrite materials in HPM applications will be developed during the proposed Phase I effort. These techniques will be utilized to conduct a comprehensive study and identify materials properties responsible for the current limitations in operational capabilities of HPM systems, such as frequency limits of operation, peak power capability, repetition rate, high frequency losses, as well as system size, cost and weight. Theoretical models describing the dynamic saturation processes and magnetic viscosity of ferrite materials under fast rise-time pulse excitations will be developed and predictions compared with experimental data. These experiments will establish a solid foundation for the development of advanced ferrite materials specifically optimized for HPM generation applications in a follow-on Phase II effort. A systematic characterization of ferrite materials in the context of HPM has never been attempted and may prove enabling to the development of next generation systems with enhanced capabilities."
Tunable multiferroic hairpin-line resonator microstrip bandpass filter at C-band,N00014-11-M-0186,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79859.00,Metamagnetics Inc.,480 Neponset Street,12B,Canton,MA,02021-1938,No,No,No,Elaine Trudell,Program Manager,(781) 636-8275,trudell@metamagneticsinc.com,Anton Geiler,Director of Product Devel,(617) 780-7983,geiler@metamagneticsinc.com,"Metamagnetics proposes to address the limitations of currently available commercial-of-the-shelf tunable microwave filters in terms of insertion loss, linearity, tuning speed, etc. by developing innovative voltage tunable multiferroic microstrip filter technology. The proposed concept offers the potential advantages of low insertion loss, low dc power consumption, high rf power handling capability, fast response time, planar geometry, and compact size. Metamagnetics""researchers will develop microstrip ferrite filters that exhibit either direct voltage tuning through stress-mediated mechanical coupling of ferrites with piezoelectric materials or indirect tuning using magnetic fringe fields emanating from voltage tunable multiferroic composites utilizing magnetostrictive and piezoelectric materials. These experiments will establish a solid foundation for the development of advanced multiferroic tunable filter devices in a follow-on Phase II effort. The proposed technology described herein combines the low loss, high power handling, reliability, and radiation hardness of today's ferrite filter devices with planar, cost-effective, low power consuming, and fast responding multiferroic voltage drive technology."
Low loss self-biased ferrite circulators for size and weight sensitive applications requiring high power handling and temperature stability,N00024-11-C-4184,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,749299.00,Metamagnetics Inc.,480 Neponset Street,12B,Canton,MA,02021-1938,No,No,No,Elaine Trudell,Program Manager,(781) 636-8275,trudell@metamagneticsinc.com,Anton Geiler,Principal Investigator,(617) 780-7983,geiler@metamagneticsinc.com,"Self-biased ferrite circulator and isolator devices have previously been demonstrated and discussed in the literature. While operation without biasing magnets was verified, all the prototypes constructed thus far exhibited relatively high loss and poor isolation, which made them unsuitable for practical applications. Furthermore, due to the strong internal magnetic field in the ferrite materials utilized to develop self-biased circulators in the past, the frequency of operation was restricted to above 20 GHz. Metamagnetics developed and patented novel materials fabrication and orientation techniques that lead to exceptionally low magnetic losses. Further, the aforementioned orientation techniques have been successfully applied to substituted hexagonal ferrite materials that possess low uniaxial anisotropy, thus allowing self-biased devices in the 8 to 20 GHz frequency band. Building upon these enabling advances, in this Navy SBIR Phase II effort, the development of low loss self-biased circulators for X-band applications is pursued. In addition, enhanced temperature stability and power handling capability over existing state-of-the-art are undertaken in this program to help prevent ferrite circulator devices from becoming the bottleneck in the development of next generation T/R modules and AESA systems relying upon wide bandgap semiconductor active devices."
Grain boundary engineering of low loss ferrite cores required for high efficiency power electronics components,N00024-11-C-4179,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,999204.00,Metamagnetics Inc.,480 Neponset Street,12B,Canton,MA,02021-1938,No,No,No,Elaine Trudell,Program Manager,(781) 636-8275,trudell@metamagneticsinc.com,Anton Geiler,Principal Investigator,(617) 780-7983,geiler@metamagneticsinc.com,"The development of switch mode power supplies is constantly challenging the ferrite industry to produce new, high-quality ferrite cores capable of operating at increasingly higher frequencies and low loss. Furthermore, it is important to reduce the power losses of ferrite cores used in transformers in order to maximize output power and efficiency. This program""s technical objectives are to develop boundary engineered ferrite materials with high magnetic flux density (Bs>500 mT), high initial permeability (ur>500), low power loss (PL<300 mW/cm3 at 10mT and 100oC) in the frequency range of 0.5-7 MHz. Further, the development of compaction and thermal processing methods to produce ferrite cores while maintaining the boundary engineered structure is pursued. Optimized ferrite cores will be utilized to build planar transformers that can be used in future power electronics systems or retrofitted into existing ones. The proposed boundary engineered ferrite materials are expected to be far superior to those presently utilized to develop switched-mode power supplies, dc-to-dc converters, and other power electronics components. Increased operating frequency range, increased saturation magnetization, reduced core losses, and improved temperature stability are expected to produce a significant reduction in size, weight, cost, and power consumption of power systems."
Microwave meander-line microstrip ferrite phase shifters tunable with low power drives,N00014-11-C-0397,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,741496.00,Metamagnetics Inc.,480 Neponset Street,12B,Canton,MA,02021-1938,No,No,No,Elaine Trudell,Program Manager,(781) 636-8275,trudell@metamagneticsinc.com,Anton Geiler,Principal Investigator,(617) 780-7983,geiler@metamagneticsinc.com,"Modern active electronically scanned phased array radars provide outstanding capability but are unfortunately expensive. To a large degree, this results from the need for power and low noise amplifiers at each antenna element. A promising alternative architecture shares the amplifiers among many elements and thus requires a phase shifter at each element. This choice imposes challenging power handling and insertion loss requirements on the phase shifter. Ferrite phase shifters offer low loss and high power handling capability but are bulky, heavy and power consuming. In this proposal, the development of microstrip ferrite phase shifters that exhibit low loss (10 W), and tuning with low magnetic fields is pursued. In parallel, low power drivers ("
Visual Signature Reduction Technology using Dynamic Camouflage Coatings,N00024-11-C-4123,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,599847.00,ArgenTech Solutions,4 Tirrell Place,,Durham,NH,03824,No,No,No,Keith Haney,President,(603) 781-6516,khaney@argentechsolutions.com,Robert Meyer,Program Manager,(603) 512-5366,rhmeyer@argentechsolutions.com,"Photochromic technologies that can modulate absorption, emission and reflection properties show promise as a means to achieve visual signature reduction for vessel in an oceanic environment. Dynamically changing the vessel""s color, brightness, and hull coating patterns will minimize a vessel's contrast to its surroundings. Appropriate selections of Performance Indicator's photochromic technologies, augmented with commercially available photochromic dyes, will be assessed in a series of laboratory and full-scale tests for their suitability to quantifiably reduce a submersible""s overall visual signature. Key material characteristics such as wavelength (or color), response time, stability, compatibility, and cost will be analyzed and catalogued correlating to a typical submersible""s operating profile. Given that visual stealth is most important in littoral environments, application techniques and testing methods which characterize littoral environments needed for material design choices will also be evaluated. Additionally, environmental factors which affect coating performance and test design including light absorption and scattering due to suspended inorganic and biological materials in the water column, will be evaluated. Coating qualification requirements identified from Phase IA will be applied to the appropriate chemical formulation(s) for use in tactical environments. The project will culminate in a full-scale demonstration in a relevant marine environment."
Selective Oxidation of Heterocyclic Amines,FA9300-11-M-6002,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,1,99127.00,NALAS Engineering Services Inc.,85 Westbrook Road,,Centerbrook,CT,06409-,Yes,No,No,Jerry Salan,CEO,(860) 861-3691,jerry.salan@nalasengineering.com,Jerry Salan,Scientist,(860) 861-3691,jerry.salan@nalasengineering.com,"ABSTRACT: The United States Air Force and the Department of Defense are investigating synthesis, scale-up and production of novel energetic materials including high energy density compounds and fuels. Five-membered heterocyclic rings containing nitro groups have demonstrated great potential as energetic materials. Synthetic and engineering challenges are impeding scientists from safely producing desired materials for further evaluation in energetic material applications. Specifically, selective oxidation of energetic materials poses a significant challenge to investigators. As part of the first phase of this project, NALAS proposes the following work towards the development of a selective mono-oxidation of heterocyclic diamine linked via hetero-atomic linkers: 1. Determination and analysis of oxidative potential of target molecules development of a predictive model 2. Development of a protocol for in situ analysis of oxidation reactions 3. Development of a chemoselective mono-oxidation of the diamine motif based on flexible catalytic systems BENEFIT: Nalas Engineering has an excellent relationship with various vendors that develop and commercialize new products routinely, including Mettler Toledo AutoChem. Mettler Toledo AutoChem has annual sales ranging between $100-200 million for its automated laboratory equipment and in-situ sensors (AutoChem is part of the larger Mettler Toledo family that is currently at $2 billion a year). If successful, Nalas proposes that the work accomplished in this effort will expand through these venues with revenue estimates of $10-20 million per year the first five years in the market attributed to new sensors and attachments to existing market items such as the automated laboratory reactors (RC1 and EasyMax systems). Although Nalas is a new company, their employees have participated on teams that have successfully commercialized or demonstrated commercialization ability through proof-of-concept studies. This particular project is in its infancy and the technologies have not yet been fully developed or integrated. The demand remains high for tools that will aid in process development."
Novel Oxidizer for Ammonium Perchlorate Replacement,FA9300-11-M-2014,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99874.00,NALAS Engineering Services Inc.,85 Westbrook Road,,Centerbrook,CT,06409-,Yes,No,No,Jerry Salan,Chemical Engineer/CEO,(860) 861-3691,jerry.salan@nalasengineering.com,Jerry Salan,Chemical Engineer/CEO,(860) 861-3691,jerry.salan@nalasengineering.com,"ABSTRACT: In an attempt to develop novel oxidizer materials that the DoD requires for use in missile systems to meet performance and sensitivity requirements, NALAS proposes to screen potential candidates for suitability using first known and predicted information. Specific types of materials under consideration will be those possessing intra/intermolecular hydrogen bonds such as those appearing in molecules like TATB and FOX-7, which appear to stabilize these materials, and derivatives of 3,4-diaminofurazan. Promising materials will be synthesized and evaluated for suitability using sensitivity, thermal stability characteristics, and projected performance. Candidates meeting all requirements will be proposed for further study in a Phase II effort, in which they will be tested for performance in formulation. BENEFIT: Anticipated benefits are identification of novel oxidizer materials for use in missile systems that meet the performance and sensitivity requirements outlined in IHPRPT. In addition to use in military applications, such materials could be made available for space applications and commercial gun and/or airbag propellants."
Compact and Portable Hyperlite Multi-Occupant Hyperbaric Chamber,WC133R-11-CN-150,DOC,DOC,SBIR,2011,1,95000.00,"PCCI, Inc.",300 N. Lee Street,Suite 201,Alexandria,VA,22314-2640,No,No,No,Robert W. Urban,President,(703) 229-1102,burban@pccii.com,Robert M. Loesch,Senior Engineer III,(703) 229-1108,rloesch@pccii.com,"PCCI, Inc. has partnered with SOS Hyperlite, Ltd.; the original developer and sole manufacturer of the Hyperlite Emergency Evacuation Hyperbaric Stretcher (EEHS), the only non-metallic hyperbaric chamber currently constructed in accordance with ASME PVHO-1 for Human Occupancy and meeting U.S. Navy Diving and Hyperbaric Systems Safety Certification. This partnership was originally formed in 2002 to manufacture and market a Government version of the EEHS. Since that time, the technology utilized on the EEHS has been upgraded to improve durability and manufacturing has shifted to the United States. The PCCI team now proposes to demonstrate the technical feasibility of extending the single occupancy EEHS technology to develop a two or three occupant, double-lock folding hyperbaric chamber meeting the SBIR subtopic technical requirements. This new compact, portable and light-weight chamber will allow the transfer of medics in and out at any time, to perform full hands-on medical care and treatment for even the most critically ill patients, while delivering hyperbaric oxygen, the treatment of choice for diving related pressure injuries. This Phase I effort will focus on the engineering to demonstrate the technical feasibility of manufacturing an ASME PVHO-1, and Case 12, compliant chamber capable of compressing occupants to 60 feet depth."
High Fidelity Digital Human Models for Protective Equipment Design,N00014-11-M-0287,DOD,NAVY,STTR,2011,1,149594.00,CRYE ASSOCIATES LLC,63 FLUSHING AVENUE UNIT 252,,BROOKLYN,NY,-,No,No,No,Ernest Brusalis,Senior Controller,(718) 246-1515,ernest@cryeprecision.com,Stefan Rublowsky,Program Manager,(718) 246-1515,stefan@cryeassociates.com,"Today the evaluation methods employed in the development and assessment of soldier borne Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) system designs are often extremely slow, expensive, and complex, resulting in significant delays and expense in the fielding of improved designs. Recent rapid advancements in digital human modeling now allow the development of a multi-scale, comprehensive PPE evaluation tool, which will provide operational, performance, and injury assessments, and will facilitate design development and optimization. We propose utilizing the Santos digital human model as the foundation for this tool, and believe it will allow for a tremendous improvement in the speed and efficiency of PPE development and fielding. Program objectives are to create the integration framework and protocols allowing multiple third-party simulation and modeling components to work seamlessly within the Santos platform, and to execute the integration of several of the most important of these components, including soft armor models, casualty prediction capabilities, and design capabilities. In Phase I we will develop a proposed architecture for the integration framework including a systems engineering strategy; explore new armor-system design capabilities; assess the feasibility of proposed levels of potential component integration; and demonstrate component integration using the CPAT ballistic effectiveness assessment tool."
"Development of a High Mobility, Contaminated Water Dive Suit System",N00014-11-C-0304,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,495712.00,CRYE ASSOCIATES LLC,63 FLUSHING AVENUE UNIT 252,,BROOKLYN,NY,-,No,No,No,Stefan Rublowsky,Program Manager,(718) 246-1515,stefan@cryeassociates.com,Caleb Crye,Executive Director,(718) 246-1515,ccrye@cryeassociates.com,"This is our SBIR Phase II proposal for the development of working prototypes of a free swimming dive suit system for use in contaminated water by NSW divers. Existing commercial equipment available for contaminated water diving provides a high level of protection but does not allow""free swimming""use, and are not adaptable to this application. Currently for contaminated water use NSW divers employ conventional FFMs (full face masks) and dry suits that are not optimized for this use and have significant performance and safety shortcomings. Our Phase I effort identified the FFM as the critical weakness of these systems and we have developed a new mask system concept, which when combined with an optimized dry suit, will provide greatly improved performance. Our mask system will provide a helmet like seal to protect the divers face from contaminated water, and incorporates a unique face seal system that will allow conformance with a wide range of face shapes, while providing a high level of comfort. The objectives of our Phase II effort are to develop working prototypes of our design concepts and deliver 5 functional systems to the Navy for test and evaluation. We believe this system, as is or with minor modifications, would have a wide market in other military, SAR and commercial diving applications."
Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplex (OFDM) Waveform Optimized for Power Limited Line of Sight (LOS) User Environments,N66001-11-C-5226,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,499958.00,"Kuma Signals, LLC",5926 Balcones Dr.,Ste. 230,Austin,TX,-,No,No,No,Steven Peters,Chief Executive Officer,(512) 879-6384,steven.peters@kumasignals.com,Robert Daniels,Executive VP of Engineeri,(512) 879-6384,robert.daniels@kumasignals.com,"Kuma Signals proposes to prototype and test the Dillo fractional bit mapping framework investigated in the Phase I work plan. The Dillo system is designed to enable orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in high Doppler, low SNR, long delay spread environments with impulsive noise. The framework utilizes an innovative holistic approach to the physical layer design, focusing on cancellation of inter-carrier interference combined with powerful channel coding and adaptive spreading for peak-to-average power ratio reduction."
Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Modeling and Simulation Tool,N68335-11-C-0246,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,1028483.00,Group W Inc,8315 Lee Hwy,Suite 400,Fairfax,VA,-,No,No,No,Gef Fleming,Program Manager,(703) 962-7737,gfleming@groupw.com,Earl Lazarus,Senior Simulation Archite,(817) 739-2076,earl.lazarus@groupw.com,"Our proposal describes a systematic method to demonstrate how these conflicts and challenges to designing and developing a few-vs.-few model for air-prosecuted ASW can be overcome in a manner that will meet the needs of NAVAIR as the immediate sponsor as well as provide value as a model for other communities within the Navy and elsewhere across Government and industry. Our proposed approach to create the objective model is predicated on two factors. First, it involves innovative approaches to representation that extend the modeling of system performance and human behavior to capture, in a single tool, the interaction of dissimilar actors engaging in diverse decision-making processes across different environments. Second, it relies on disciplined approaches to model development that fairly consider and balance analytical motivations, competing requirements and technical alternatives such that software can be designed and implemented or perhaps re-used as appropriate to provide both near-term functionality and enduring utility. The end-product would be a functional model developed initially to support the analysis of air-prosecuted ASW but readily extensible by an anticipatory design to support the analysis of additional domains."
SBIR Phase II: Assessing Private Company Health Using Advanced Language Computing Techniques,1127191,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,500000.00,CB Information Services,56 Pine Street,Suite #3D,New York,NY,10005-1538,No,No,No,Anand Sanwal,BEng,9172792101,asanwal@cbinsights.com,Anand Sanwal,,9172792101,asanwal@cbinsights.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop an software system directed at financial institutions (lenders and investors) that will provide them with actionable, realtime intelligence into the health of private companies. The technology being developed will scan and parse millions of structured, semi-structured and unstructured information sources searching for signals of a private company's health. Then, based on context, it will algorithmically process, categorize and assess the sentiment and strength of these disparate signals to offer a comprehensive, coherent and real-time view of a private company's health, its likely financing needs and best fit financing solutions from a financial institution?s product portfolio. Using the company's line of products, financial institutions will be able to look at private companies in a fundamentally different, smarter, more scalable and data-driven way that empowers them to efficiently and intelligently make critical financing and capital allocation decisions. Specifically, they will have the potential to able to identify the right private companies in real-time and will be armed with intelligence they can use to offer them appropriate financing solutions. The system's ability to process a diversity of structured, semi-structured and unstructured information sources and programmatically derive measures of company health would have profound positive effects on the precision, rigor and scalability of institutional lending and investment into private companies. Today, the private company financing market is built on highly imprecise and imperfect heuristics that result in high business loan default rates, or at its worst, bank failures as occurred in 2009. The downstream impact of this is that small businesses do not get the financing they need as evidenced in 2009 when, according to the Federal Reserve, only 40% of private small businesses that sought bank financing actually received the funding they needed. Per the Small Business Administration, businesses with fewer than 500 employees account for more than half the nation's employment and nearly half of GDP. As a result, it is critical that healthy private companies which are an economic catalyst have access to financing. Unfortunately, without credible, actionable, scalable and real-time information which distinguishes between healthy and unhealthy private businesses, financial institutions remain at an informational disadvantage. This increases their risk, which in turn hinders growing, healthy private companies from receiving the financing they need. If successfully deployed, the technology being supported by this proposal has the potential to make a significant impact in the marketplace."
"Alternative Energy Systems and High Efficiency Water Purification Systems for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations, and Expeditionar",N00014-11-C-0394,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,582028.00,Pacific Research Group,5580 La Cumbre Rd,,Somis,CA,-,No,No,No,Robert Lovo,Project Manager,(805) 701-1690,rlovo@pacresgroup.com,Ted Kuepper,Senior Engineer,(805) 985-3057,tke@isle.net,"Pacific Research Group (PRG) intends to develop a unique combination of components to create the most compact, lightest, and lowest power seawater desalination system ever made. Its low power requirement is due to the fact that the design utilizes a state-of-the-art energy recovery system and this low power feature will enable our system to operate solely from solar power panels. In addition, the PRG design will include a four-stage pre-treatment system that is robust and effective where all four stages can be cleaned in place and able to handle high turbidity source waters. From PRG""s experience, water treatment systems designed to be used for applications that include humanitarian and emergency operations must be able to accommodate difficult-to-treat source waters in remote areas of developing countries, the areas most likely to have a need for this type of equipment. The evolution of low-capacity seawater reverse osmosis desalination systems has been relatively slow and incremental when compared to larger facility-sized desalination technology. Major advances in the areas of energy efficiency, pre-filtration, and material science have not completely transferred to the small system market. PRG intends to change this situation with superior design innovation honed through experience specifically for military applications."
Advanced Breakwater and Causeway Design Concepts,N00014-11-C-0332,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,1486241.00,"Quantum Engineering Design, Inc.",30487 Peterson Road,,Corvallis,OR,97333-,No,No,No,Michael Plackett,Chief Executive Officer,(541) 929-2676,plackmj@peak.org,Michael Plackett,Chief Executive Officer,(541) 929-2676,plackmj@peak.org,"Under the Phase I program the""Quantum Engineering Design, Inc""(QED) team comprising, QED as prime contractor,""Marinette Marine Corporation""(MMC),""Alion Science and Technology Corporation""(AST) and""Kepner Plastics Fabricators, Inc""(KPF) as subcontractors, submitted a Final Report which defined a broad approach for meeting the need for rapidly installed breakwaters and causeways to emplace a temporary port in a littoral area. Reference 1 also included a description of ways and means of providing protection and sea-state mitigation for offshore Sea Basing operations using adaptations of the proposed rapid port enhancement system components. In addition, a method of enhancing ship-to-shore logistics throughput employing a combination of these components along with the independently developed wheeled version of the""Container Lifting and Maneuvering System""(C-LMS) was also presented. The overall system concept was called the""Advanced Breakwater And Causeway Ultramarine System""(ABACUS). The Phase II program is designed to test and evaluate these systems at large model scale and where appropriate, at full-scale."
Advanced Rail Materials for Electromagnetic Launchers,N00014-11-C-0407,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,362368.00,"Schultz-Creehan, LLC",2200 Kraft Drive,Suite 1475,Blacksburg,VA,-,No,No,No,Nanci Hardwick,CEO,(540) 443-9215,nanci@schultz-creehan.com,Jeff Schultz,CTO,(540) 443-9215,jeff@schultz-creehan.com,"Improving the useful rail life is major technical barrier to developing a fleet-deployable electromagnetic (EM) launcher. Current copper alloy rails, while having excellent electrical conductivity, are highly susceptible to hypervelocity gouging, galling, and attack by liquid aluminum transferred from the armature. Without a solution for these rail wear problems, the utility of EM launchers may be greatly limited due to high costs (resulting from a limited number of firings between scheduled rail replacements). Metal matrix composite coatings with refractory metal reinforcement, such as tungsten, molybdenum or tantalum, have been identified by NSWCDD as candidate coating materials for improving rail life. A revolutionary wrought metal deposition method, based on friction stir technology, is being developed through ONR funding by Schultz-Creehan to deposit coatings, including MMC coatings, that are metallurgically bonded with the substrate. This wrought metal deposition technology is referred to as friction stir fabrication (FSF). The application of this technology to the EM rail problem would be a straightforward extrapolation of current research and development efforts. As such, herein, Schultz-Creehan presents a novel but realistic approach to improve EM rail life through the application of MMC coatings using FSF."
Thermally Stable Machine Gun Barrel,M67854-11-C-6537,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,599996.00,North American Training Lodge Inc,41 Industrial Drive,Suite #5,Exeter,NH,-,No,No,No,William Gifford,President NATL,(603) 772-5088,bill@natlnh.com,David Buchanan,Engineering Fellow,(603) 772-5088,dave@natlnh.com,"NATL will perform additional extreme live fire schedules beyond the exploratory scope of Phase 1. NATL will push Dark Metal's capability to thermally manage abrasion and wear resistance demonstrated in Phase 1. NATL will further push previouse live fire round counts to the extreme to demonstrate minimized fouling and carbon adhesion within chromeless chambers, bores, rifling and extend this treatment to internal component lifetime improvements."
Expert System Simulation Capability for Recoverability Modeling,N00024-11-C-4120,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,499939.00,"Test & Evaluation Solutions, LLC",400 Holiday Court,Suite 204,Warrenton,VA,20186-,No,No,No,Daniel Foos,Managing Member,(703) 304-5068,dfoos@tnesolutions.com,Derek Skahen,Senior Engineer,(703) 966-5319,dskahen@tnesolutions.com,"Recent events such as the fire on the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON have shown that communications and decision making can have a dominant impact on scenario outcomes involving shipboard fires. The processes by which information is learned, disseminated, assembled, and processed have a direct effect on where, when, and what kind of response is mounted by the crew. Current recoverability simulations, such as the Integrated Recoverability Model (IRM) are able to realistically emulate the interaction and dependencies of ship""s systems, initial systems configuration(s), structural and equipment damage from weapon effects, fire, flooding, and stability. The IRM is also able to simulate crew actions over time, but provides overly optimistic predictions of crew actions. Test & Evaluation Solutions, LLC, in partnership with Soar Technology, Inc., and Hughes Associates, Inc. proposes to address the crew behavior limitations of the IRM by developing a crew behavior module that works with the IRM Simulator and existing fire and flooding modules. The Soar software architecture provides a powerful platform to address the most complex aspects of human behavior and paired with the IRM can enable an innovative solution to simulating damage scenarios, including a more realistic crew response."
SBIR Phase II: Matching Algorithms and Talent Acquisition System to Improve Start-Up Staffing,1127357,NSF,NSF,STTR,2011,2,500000.00,StartUpHire,1934 Old Gallows Road,Suite 350,Vienna,VA,22182-4050,No,No,No,Stephen E. Roberson,BArch,(703) 585-1199,sroberson@startuphire.com,Stephen E. Roberson,,(703) 585-1199,sroberson@startuphire.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to create core algorithms for a Talent Acquisition System to pragmatically match candidates to startup job opportunities. Startup hiring needs are unique, and the market lacks an effective platform to accelerate and improve this core competency for company building. Generic search of a resume database does not sufficiently capture the unique fit requirements of startup employment nor return acceptable results. This research aims to incorporate (a) limited employer input of search criteria using a simple interface with (b) a broad range of normalized inputs, each individually scored for startup fit, to create a self-tuning algorithm for the search, discovery, and pairing of candidates to the unique needs of startups. The innovation in this approach is to create a system inherently weighted to both the hard and soft attributes of startup work/life. If successful, this effort will remove much of the guesswork by pointing employers to those most likely to excel in these opportunities. Data extraction, scoring techniques, and full text search will be applied to resumes, questionnaires, job search histories, social networking maps and search terms to feed the algorithm. The broader impact of this project will be to improve the success rate for young companies by accelerating and improving the staffing of strong teams at every level in the organization. StartUpHire believes there is significant commercial potential for a startup centric career resource in the $6 billion annual U.S. online recruitment industry. Competitive approaches treat startup recruiting as identical to large company recruiting, yet experience indicates there is tremendous demand for an approach built around the unique needs of this community. Companies benefit by (a) focusing on talent which self-selects into this ecosystem and (b) algorithmically filtering these candidates using startup-specific success criteria. This research will create the first platform of its kind specific to startups, something employers have repeatedly requested. The proposed system will deliver both quality and speed biased to the needs of emerging growth companies."
SBIR Phase I: Development of Physico-Chemically&Biologically Activated Swelling Organosilica-Metal Composites Filter Media in Bioretention Systems for Enhanced Remediation of Ur,1113260,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149000.00,ABSMaterials Inc.,1909 Old Mansfield Rd.,,Wooster,OH,44691-9359,No,No,No,Hanbae Yang,,3302347999,h.yang@absmaterials.com,Hanbae Yang,,3302347999,h.yang@absmaterials.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop bio-retention soils for the remediation of storm water runoff and common pollutants using engineered glass materials. Storm water runoff is a major component of non-point source pollution. The presence of excessive nutrients, metals, hydrocarbons, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals in surface, ground and drinking water is of particular concern due to their persistence and toxicity. Controlling runoff pollutants will be accomplished using engineered glass (Osorb)-metal composites mixed into bio-retention systems. Osorb physically absorbs a wide variety of volatile organic pollutants from water. Osorb will chemically remediate pollutants with embedded particles of catalytic metals. Breakdown byproducts of pollutants can be biologically mineralized in bio-retention systems or consumed as foods by the biotic community. It is expected that Osorb-metal composites amended soils will have significantly improved removal efficiency of multiple runoff pollutants without compromising hydraulic performance of the systems. The broader/commercial impacts of this research include: Substantial reduction of local toxic runoffs, protection from flooding and property damage by improving plant health and water-retainment of soils, improvement of aquatic and human health, and facilitation of sustainable water reuse. It is estimated by US EPA, runoff pollutants result in a multitude of economic losses in the US annually including; $30 million + annual direct losses for fishing industries, $2 billion + annual losses for beach tourism due to toxic closures and $17 million+ extra treatment costs in drinking water treatment plants. The state and federal governments are mandating local storm water programs to control storm water pollution and the cost of storm water runoff treatment is expected to significantly increase with a stricter regulatory climate. Developing cost-effective and effective storm water best management practice (BMP) would substantially reduce negative effects of runoff pollutants on human and aquatic health. The City of Seattle recently released a 2010 study which estimated the economic impact of uncontrolled storm-water runoffs at $113M. These costs combined the demonstrated losses to wildlife, human access to water resources, added costs of water treatment and 3 documented additional costs in human health care. The City of Cleveland and the local area watersheds have released a preliminary report reaching similar per-capita costs of pollutants in runoff waters."
Removal of Dissolved Organics From Flow Back Waters Using Swellable Organosilica,DE-FG02-10ER85986,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,978821.00,ABSMaterials Inc.,1909 Old Mansfield Rd.,,Wooster,OH,44691-9359,No,No,No,Stephen Spoonamore,Mr.,3302347999,s.spoonamore@absmaterials.com,Paul Edmiston,Mr.,3302347999,p.edmiston@absmaterials.com,"The American Public Power Association estimates 14,000 permits for hydraulic fractured gas wells will be filed in PA, OH, NY and WV by 2016. Each of these permits will result in fracture operations needing 150,000 -1 million barrels of water. Frost and Sullivan, the market analysis firm estimates approximately 120 million bbl of water will have to be used in fracturing operations annually through 2025 to fully exploit the available and desired natural gas. A reasonable estimate is that 30% of this water, 40 million bbl, will return to the surface as flow back water. Flow back water contains a significant amounts of dissolved solids, chemical additives, and in late stages, hydrocarbons from the formation. ABSMaterials is developing water treatment system that removes organic contaminants from flow back water for recycling or reuse. The system can be used alone or to create treated feed water for membrane systems that can remove dissolved solids. The technology is based on Osorb, a patented swellable nano-engineered material with the ability to capture up to 8 times its weight in organics via reversible swelling. In Phase I of the project, a skid-mounted 4 gpm and trailer-mounted 60 gpm fluidized bed system were fabricated and tested with major oil service companies on the ABSMaterials campus. Results showed that & gt;95% organics were removed including hydrocarbons and surfactants. In addition, we began work to expand the use of Osorb to capture of metal ions from flow back water. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will convert pilot scale systems to treat flow back water to commercial-scale manufactured units. In Phase II, the 60 gpm pilot scale system will be enhanced and tested at several sites in North America to refine our system. In addition, a second larger ~250 gpm pilot system will be built as part of this project as the first prototype of a manufactured commercial system for field operations. It is anticipated that a system that can continuously operate and treat flow back water for $6-7/bbl will be achieved in 24 months. Key focus areas will be engineering and Osorb regeneration methods."
SBIR Phase II: Innovative Tools to Visualize Digital Media in Digital Era,1127190,NSF,NSF,STTR,2011,2,288963.00,OhMyGov Inc.,6327 Franconia Commons Drive,,Alexandria,VA,22310-2567,No,No,No,Richard T. Hartman,PhD,(703) 922-0275,richard.hartman@ohmygov.com,Richard T. Hartman,,(703) 922-0275,richard.hartman@ohmygov.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will provide a visual analytics platform that helps visualize how information spreads on the Web through networks of news outlets and social media users. The supported research will extend the interactive visual analytic platform by incorporating better influence modeling, sophisticated propagation cascade models that consider the semantics of the entities and their changing dynamics through time, and new visual paradigms for clustered and grouped data. The interface will allow the end user to manipulate visual representations of how a single press release, news clip, Tweet, or marketing push triggers activity among journalists, micro-bloggers, etc. Public sector policy makers, communications professionals and researchers can use this platform to uncover paradigms in data dissemination, find new ways to influence information dissemination, better inform their leadership, and root out sources of erroneous information online. The Phase II research focuses on dynamic influence monitoring, development of robust propagation cascading models for different social media sites, and the use of visual analytics to understand multi-granularity information propagators. The three areas of research for Phase II are all complementary methods that attempt to characterize, measure, and understand the ubiquitous process of information spread and the influence of individuals in this process as well as allow the user to interact with the underlying data to enhance public outreach. This grant will continue development of an interactive platform within which users can see and uncover patterns describing how messages are distributed across networks. The tool will locate key influencers, allowing communicators to see exactly how a message was distributed and ways to expedite message delivery during emergencies. Equally important is the ability of the tool to quickly uncover the source(s) and major purveyors of harmful misinformation on the Web. Data and filters further allow users to assess the size and demographic makeup of the audiences being reached enhancing governments interface with the public providing objective measures of the organization's effectiveness in penetrating traditional, new, and social media outlets. This insight will be used to better inform the organization and enhance public awareness of local, state and federal initiatives. Paired with the broader media analysis platform constructed earlier, the supported research will provide a comprehensive means of monitoring and measuring federal, state, and local municipality organizational performance."
SBIR Phase II: Ultra-high-speed 3-D imaging,1127545,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,500000.00,Chiaro Technologies LLC,1600 Range St,Ste 102,Boulder,CO,80301-2739,No,No,No,Benjamin Braker,DPhil,3032461683,braker@chiarotech.com,Benjamin Braker,,3032461683,braker@chiarotech.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will produce a commercial prototype of a new 3-dimensional (3-D) imaging technology capable of measuring 3-D surface profiles up to five orders of magnitude faster than existing techniques. 3-D imaging technology is increasingly used for many applications, but current approaches have slow acquisition speeds and cannot accurately measure certain types of objects and scenes. The proposed technology will dramatically advance the state of the art in 3-D imaging speeds from a few Megapixel frames per second up to MHz frame rates without sacrificing metrological precision. At the same time, this approach enables surface profilometry of objects and scenes that are difficult or impossible to measure with existing techniques. The approach uses an innovative projection system to illuminate a scene with patterned light and simultaneously acquire multiple images of the scene. The 3-D image is reconstructed from the acquired images using novel, robust, pixel-independent algorithms that improve accuracy for diverse illumination, object reflectivity characteristics, and minimize the number of images required for an object-independent reconstruction. This Phase II program will build on successful Phase I feasibility demonstrations to produce a complete system suitable for beta deployment at a customer site. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will emerge when the technology is used in applications that boost productivity, increase security, improve health, and advance the progress of science. Commercialization will initially target the research market, where scientists and engineers studying mechanics, aerodynamics, robotics, and ballistics require the ability to image dynamic systems in 3-D to validate models, to provide feedback in the design process, and to verify performance of prototype designs. A second target market is manufacturing, where trends towards 100% testing and increased use of 3-D measurements will drive the need for high-speed 3-D imaging capability to improve efficiency, quality, and yield. Beyond these markets, the proposed technology could serve a variety of other unmet needs for high-speed 3-D imaging, such as facial recognition, haptic vision for the blind, robotic navigation and object recognition, entertainment, and others. Because the proposed technology offers unprecedented measurement capabilities in terms of speed, resolution, and versatility, it holds the potential to reveal new phenomena that were previously inaccessible, giving researchers a new tool for understanding our dynamic 3-D world."
Holographic Radar Signal Processing,FA8650-11-M-1169,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,1,100000.00,Chiaro Technologies LLC,1600 Range St,Ste 102,Boulder,CO,80301-2739,No,No,No,Eric Moore,Co-Founder,(303) 554-0557,eric@chiarotech.com,Benjamin Braker,Co-Founder,(303) 554-0557,braker@chiarotech.com,"ABSTRACT: This STTR Phase I feasibility study is a collaboration between Chiaro Technologies LLC (Chiaro) and the University of Colorado (CU). The program assesses the feasibility of a prototype holographic range-Doppler signal processor with a code-name""HORUS"". The HORUS processor can take element signals from a large linear phased array to produce simultaneous range-Doppler maps across many angles of arrival (AOAs). This processor can operate with arbitrary waveforms and across wide bandwidths, offer enhanced Doppler processing for extended dynamic range, and electronically switch between active radar or passive radar modes. To produce such performance, HORUS takes advantage of a recently-developed pulse-shaping-method where RF signals and an RF array can be scaled down to the size of an optical pulse and an optical array; this enables an optical system to use a single hologram to perform beamforming and range-Doppler processing across the three dimensions of a 1-inch hologram. The dynamic, compact, high performance HORUS system offers processing for both active and passive radar systems. BENEFIT: Unlike any previous holographic radar processors, HORUS can be used in either a multibeam ubiquitous radar system or a passive multistatic radar system. A radar system equipped with HORUS could use a stealthy passive multistatic radar when operating in densely populated areas with many illuminators of opportunity or jammers, and it could use an active, monostatic radar when operating in remote areas with no illuminators of opportunity. A fully-functional HORUS system could offer all of these properties within a single implementation using COTS equipment. Other range-Doppler processors, including previous holographic and CCD-based interferometric approaches can produce 1000 range bins and 1000 Doppler bins. To this capability, the HORUS system adds the capability for parallel multi-beam TTD beamforming with up to 1000 parallel beams and an additional 30 dB of beamformer processing gain. This is enabled by harnessing the third dimension of a volume hologram for signal processing, and not just for multiplexing, as in holographic optical data storage. This range-Doppler processing across 1000 simultaneous AOA beams allows an active radar system to monitor up to 1000 regions on the ground with enormous dwell times and sensitivities. In a multistatic radar system, the system can perform parallel Doppler correlations for up to 1000 different transmitters, a feature which can have a dramatic impact on the detection and resolution of the system. A third feature is that these correlations are performed on arbitrary optically-upconverted RF signals without an RF receiver. Arbitrary waveform processing allows monostatic radars to transmit dynamic radar pulses without reconfiguring the receiver, and even more significantly it allows passive multistatic radars to use whatever signals are available without reconfiguring the receiver. Thus, the passive radar could conceivably work with the entire spectrum of FM broadcasters, TV broadcasts, and cellular phone transmitters simultaneously if the RF signals could be collected. And finally, the HORUS system can process RF bandwidths of 100 MHz or more using detectors and digitizers of 1 MHz or less not the 200 MHz digitizers required by DSP systems. Slower digitizers are available with higher dynamic range, so the HORUS system could use 16-bit, or even 2024-bit, digitizers instead of 812-bit digitizers; this improves the detector dynamic range to 96 dB or more. Moreover, the HORUS system performs the Doppler signal processing and beamforming before it digitizes the signal on a high dynamic range detector. This dramatically enhances the clutter-limited dynamic range and the direct-transmitters-limited dynamic range of the active and passive radars, respectively."
SBIR Phase I: Novel Cost-Effective Enzyme Immobilization Technology for Sustainable Industrial Applications,1047429,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,ARZEDA Corp.,2722 Eastlake Ave East,Suite 150,Seattle,WA,98102-3143,No,No,No,Eric Althoff,PhD,2064026506,eric.althoff@arzeda.com,Eric Althoff,,2064026506,eric.althoff@arzeda.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on the design of a robust and low-cost enzyme immobilization system to increase the cost-competitiveness of bio-catalytic processes. The lack of a universal, sound, and affordable enzyme immobilization technique has been a large barrier to widespread deployment of bio-catalysis for chemical production, which hold immense promise for reducing the chemical industry?s environmental footprint. This Phase I project will lift this barrier by developing a robust and low-cost enzyme immobilization system with broad application for many different bioprocesses using one of Arzeda Corp.?s proprietary enzymes as the basis of the binding strategy. Ultimately, this project will lead to an economically viable system for immobilization of any enzyme on a bio-catalysis column with increased catalytic efficiency and longevity. The broader/commercial impacts of this research result from the fact that Arzeda has the only proven technology to design novel enzymes with catalytic machinery not existing in nature And is helping address many of the most pressing needs of the bio-refinery industry: ? Developing bio-catalytic routes to currently inaccessible renewable chemicals and ? Increasing profitability through extending enzyme lifetime and increasing enzyme lifetime. As such, Arzeda sees the success of this project as a way to increase the adoption of bio-catalysis and thereby increase the market for its enzyme products. To achieve this, Arzeda will apply its core technology along with the proposed enzyme immobilization strategy to develop bioprocesses enabling high value, renewable chemicals from biomass."
SBIR Phase I: High-yield Fermentation of Sugars to Levulinic Acid,1114078,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149894.00,ARZEDA Corp.,2722 Eastlake Ave East,Suite 150,Seattle,WA,98102-3143,No,No,No,Alexandre Zanghellini,,2064026506,alexandre.zanghellini@arzeda.com,Alexandre Zanghellini,,2064026506,alexandre.zanghellini@arzeda.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project focuses on the development of a high-yield fermentation route for the production of levulinic acid (LA). LA is one of the best-suited C5 building blocks for bio-refinery production due to higher value, broad applications, and likely quick adoption by the chemical industry. To date, no bioprocess for LA exists, and known chemical processes have not reached commercial stage due to high cost and lower yield. Arzeda, the world leader in computational enzyme engineering, has invented a new biochemical method to convert sugars to LA. The objective of this Phase I project is to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept by validating the proposed biochemical conversion in vitro. Arzeda will use its enzyme engineering platform to design the biocatalyst(s) needed, including computational modeling and design, gene assembly, and enzyme production. The broader/commercial impacts of this research are the advancement of a U.S. ?green? chemistry industry, and strengthening, economically and environmentally, of a sustainable United States bio-refinery industry. The lack of a high-yield alternative to costly thermochemical processes has been preventing a widespread adoption of levulinic acid. Because LA can be converted, chemically or biochemically, to synthetic rubber (through isoprene and butenes), bio-fuels (such as kerosene and HMF), polymers (for instance, nylons) and polymer additives (for changing polymer characteristics), the addressable market is in excess of $20B annually. When considered as the end product, LA trades at a considerable higher price than ethanol, the current product of most commercial bio-refineries, and thus can help diversify their product offering and considerably increase their margins. Application of Arzeda?s proven technology of computational enzyme design to bring to the world a high-yield fermentation route for LA will considerably advance"
SBIR Phase II: An innovative ablation device for treating atrial fibrillation,1127549,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,499400.00,Apama Medical,18729 METLER CT,,Saratoga,CA,95070-5227,No,No,No,Amr Salahieh,DPhil,4085406251,amr@shifamed.com,Amr Salahieh,,4085406251,amr@shifamed.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project proposes to develop a novel ablation balloon catheter to perform radiofrequency ablation on atrial fibrillation patients. The intellectual merit of this project is in its use of an innovative approach to positioning, mapping, and ablation for atrial fibrillation patients, negating the need for excessive catheter rotations and/or serial point ablations. This new technology significantly reduces user variability, procedural time, and the resultant cost burden on the hospital, physician, insurance payer, and patient. The research objectives for this project are to design and develop an improved prototype that enables verification of balloon-to-tissue contact; design and develop a 2nd generation radiofrequency generator capable of powering 20 electrodes; refine catheter design to increase reliability/robustness and sheathing capability; and develop 2nd generation handle that allows for the balloon extension. All of these changes will be validated through in vitro and in vivo testing. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is an improvement in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, which is the most common heart rhythm disturbance encountered in clinical medicine, accounting for 1/3 of hospital admissions for cardiac rhythm disturbances. It is estimated that nearly 2.6 million individuals are currently afflicted with atrial fibrillation in the United States, with a projected increase to nearly 4.4 million people by the year 2030. Given the significant public health and economic impact of atrial fibrillation, there is an urgent need for practical and cost-effective approaches to treat atrial fibrillation. This technology aims to answer this need, providing an improved method of treatment for patients as well as highly-marketable technology that will save hospitals time and costs burdens."
SBIR Phase I: Development Of A Novel Composite Material Based On Monodisperse Glass Microspheres For Thermal Neutron Scintillation Detectors,1045836,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149961.00,Nucsafe,601 Oak Ridge Turnpike,,Oak Ridge,TN,37830-7040,No,No,No,Kenneth Weston,PhD,8654258917,kweston@nucsafe.com,Kenneth Weston,,8654258917,kweston@nucsafe.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop the technology needed for high performance neutron detectors that use Ce3+ activated 6Li glass in the form of monodisperse microspheres with strategically controlled dimensions and architecture. Current Ce3+/6Li glass scintillator technology has the potential to produce neutron detectors that are extremely sensitive, rugged, flexible in design geometry, have a large dynamic range (background to 10 Mcps), and do not contain toxic or regulated materials, but the glass also scintillates in response to gamma radiation, which is problematic since it can cause unacceptably high false neutron alarms. The proposed material to be developed will have significantly lower gamma sensitivity as compared to the bulk glass or optical fibers and will lead to a transformational impact on the performance that can be achieved as compared to existing neutron detection systems. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes filling a market need that is vitally important for the security of vulnerable nuclear weapons and materials, and for the prevention of illicit trafficking of these materials. The effectiveness of detection systems at high-risk border crossings, airports and seaports, as well as at nuclear weapons and components storage locations and research reactors, will be improved. Since neutrons are not emitted by most radionuclides used for medical or industrial purposes, the detection of neutrons is usually an unambiguous indicator of the presence of special nuclear materials (SNMs). Because the vast majority of neutron detection systems in existence today rely on 3He proportional counters and there is currently a global shortage of 3He, a suitable alternative neutron detection technology is urgently needed."
Advanced Marine Engine for Combatant Craft Increased Payload,N00024-11-C-4121,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,299992.00,"EngineTec, Inc.",1397 Taylor Farm Road,,Virginia Beach,VA,23453-,No,No,No,Douglas Hahn,President,(757) 468-5102,douglashahn@enginetec.com,Douglas Hahn,President,(757) 468-5102,douglashahn@enginetec.com,"Today's riverine forces employ combatant patrol/assault craft that relies on speed, acceleration, and maneuverability for survivability and multi-mission success. These capabilities are at risk because of the increasing demand to carry more extensive payloads. Current diesel propulsion systems are typicallymodifications of truck or industrial engines with a weight to power ratio of 3-5 (lb/hp). By reducing the propulsion weight, the craft will be able carry more extensive payloads. The three engine choices are diesel, gasoline, and turbine. Current diesel engines don't meet the weight goal, gasoline engines are not an option due to fleet requirements and turbine engines have unacceptable thermal issues. However, a novel engine, the Linear Power Transmission (LPT) engine has the greatest potential to meet the 1lb/hp goal. The original engine design received FAA certification in the 1950's, weighed 237 lbs and produced 200 hp. In this effort, we propose to build and test an innovative multi-fuel marine engine, based on the LPT (currently in production for gensets). Project goals include an engine design that exceeds 500 HP with a weight of 480lbs with low fuel consumption."
Optical Array Shape Estimation (ASE),N00024-11-C-4127,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,299257.00,"Aither Engineering, Inc.",4865 Walden Lane,,Lanham,MD,20706-,No,No,No,Jason Kiddy,President,(240) 296-1301,jkiddy@aitherengineering.com,Chris Baldwin,Technical Director,(240) 296-1303,cbaldwin@aitherengineering.com,"The proposed fiber optic based array shape measurement system functions by measuring the strains of the array hose through the use of embedded fiber optic sensors. The fiber optic sensors respond to deflections (shape changes) of the array hose and these readings are processed by proprietary software to determine the shape of the acoustic array. The proposed Phase II effort will focus on the integration of the optical fiber sensors into the array hose structure for the shape estimation system. The research team will demonstrate the reliability, functionality, and system performance through a series of tests on short array hose sections during the base effort and prototype modules during the Option I effort. These tests will include tension tests, bend tests, and optical continuity tests to demonstrate the ruggedness of the embedded optical fiber sensors. Additionally, strain transfer tests will be conducted to demonstrate the ability of the embedded optical fiber sensors to effectively measure the response of the hose structure as the shape is deformed. In the Option II effort the prototype module will be tested at a facility capable of handling the lengths of the TB-29 modules to demonstrate the ability of the system to measure shape."
Communicative Agents for Spatio-Temporal Reasoning Workbench (CoASTeR-WB),N00014-11-C-0422,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,733531.00,Knexus Research Corp.,9120 Beachway Lane,,Springfield,VA,22153-,No,Yes,No,Kalyan Gupta,President,(703) 203-3859,kalyan.gupta@knexusresearch.com,Kalyan Gupta,President,(703) 203-3859,kalyan.gupta@knexusresearch.com,"Currently, there are no robust software platforms available for developing and evaluating reusable, virtual, communicative spatio-temporal agents. This makes rapid development and meaningful comparative evaluation, critical requirements for military and non-military applications, infeasible. To meet this need, we will develop a software platform called CoASTeR-WB (Communicative Agent for Spatio-Temporal Reasoning), and supporting Knowledge Engineering tools, and utilities. We will build on CoASTeR-WB Phase I architecture to develop a mature and advanced version that introduces additional human-computer interaction modalities such as sketch, speech, and gesture using open source and COTS components. We will research and develop advanced versions of perception, spatio-temporal reasoning, and action planning components using cognitive architectures and state-of-the-art AI planning techniques. We will fully develop CoASTeR-WB""s automated test and evaluation framework for assessing the performance of communicative dynamic agents in navigation and extra navigational tasks. We will evaluate CoASTeR-WB with navy relevant scenarios of unmanned systems missions using the Workbench""s own automated evaluation framework. We will develop knowledge engineering and test and evaluation authoring tools to make CoASTeR-WB more accessible to developers and researchers."
SBIR Phase II: System for Location-Based Mobile Consumer Analytics,1127482,NSF,NSF,STTR,2011,2,498395.00,Cadio,"38 Ossipee Rd, Suite 2",,Somerville,MA,02144-1610,No,No,No,Thaddeus R. Fulford-Jones,PhD,(617) 501-3544,thaddeus@locately.com,Thaddeus R. Fulford-Jones,,(617) 501-3544,thaddeus@locately.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project aims to improve data mining technologies for location analytics. This project will focus on the analysis of semi-continuous GPS and/or WiFi-based location data generated by consumer mobile devices. The anticipated improvements would allow consumer insights professionals and advertising effectiveness researchers to better detect emergent patterns and to draw stronger inferences about consumer behaviors, preferences, and lifestyle attributes. The enhanced data mining system would utilize state-of-the-art pattern recognition and machine learning techniques to dynamically process and interpret location and other types of data. If successful, this research will impact the state-of-the-art in location analytics. This research has the potential to meet the need of consumer insights professionals to better understand how consumers behave, without the use of lengthy surveys. In a broader sense, this research aims to accelerate progress in the emerging field of location analytics. This research can lead to the creation of a location analytics dashboard, similar to existing dashboards for web analytics. Most web analytics dashboards measure metrics such as site visits, page views and time spent for given online properties; analogously, the location analytics dashboard would measure visits by real consumers to physical locations. Such a location analytics dashboard could be offered on a subscription basis to companies that depend on consumer behaviors in the physical world ? including retailers, hotel/resort chains, restaurants, and travel companies. Such a dashboard would address a broad range of market research opportunities, from shopper loyalty research to store sitting to marketing effectiveness measurement. Additional future impacts of the proposed effort include the ability to integrate location analytics data into Geographic Information Systems for improved public safety, municipal planning and transit systems design."
SBIR Phase II: Software to Automate the Detection of Websites that are Fraudulent or Otherwise Harmful to Consumers,1127567,NSF,NSF,STTR,2011,2,500000.00,SiteJabber,3150 18th Street,"Suite 318, Box 515",San Francisco,CA,94110-2076,No,No,No,Michael Lai,BS,(415) 894-5806,fastlane@sitejabber.com,Michael Lai,,(415) 894-5806,fastlane@sitejabber.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop software to automatically detect a broad spectrum of websites that are fraudulent or otherwise harmful to consumers. Much work has been done on specific software capable of detecting websites hosting malware or engaged in phishing. However, software does not yet exist which can detect a broader array of harmful websites, including those selling counterfeits, selling illegal drugs, and hosting weight-loss scams, to name just a few. The challenge in doing this involves selecting the right features of fraudulent sites which in isolation or combination are good indictors of a site's harmfulness. Using these features, a machine learning classifier can be trained using data on known harmful websites. Unknown websites can then be run through the classifier to evaluate their potential for harm. Additional challenges involve gathering sufficient data to properly train the classifier, making the classifier general enough to detect a range of harmful sites while still maintaining accuracy, and updating the classifier in real-time such that it can improve with ongoing human feedback and additional data. The principal impact of this project is the protection of consumers from online fraud. Today, consumers lack reliable resources to evaluate unfamiliar websites. Most use familiar sites like Amazon or take a gamble on Google search results. These gambles frequently result in fraud. It is believed that there are now over 250 million websites and $100 billion lost yearly to online fraud. While the statistics cover many types of fraud, examples of risky sites include online counterfeiters, pharmacies, and retailers. The software developed in this project will greatly improve transparency around websites and protect millions from fraud. The technical achievements in this project involve the use of a vector space model in converting non-discrete features of fraudulent sites into useful data that can be inputted into a machine learning classifier. Additionally, this technology will include innovative feature choices, access to high-quality data, and the creation of a general classifier capable of improving itself in real-time and detecting a broad array of heretofore undetectable fraudulent sites."
Materials Development for Long Wave Infrared Focal Plane Arrays with Type II InAs/GaSb Superlattices,HQ0147-11-C-7604,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99886.00,SK Infrared LLC,Lobo Venture Lab 801 University Blvd Ste 100,,Albuquerque,NM,87106-4345,Yes,No,Yes,Sanchita Krishna,Chief Scientific Officer,(505) 453-3349,sanchita@skinfrared.com,Sanchita Krishna,Chief Scientific Officer,(505) 453-3349,sanchita@skinfrared.com,"In the proposed effort, SK Infrared LLC (SKI), a spin-off from the Krishna INfrared Detector (KIND) laboratory at the University of New Mexico (www.chtm.unm.edu/kind), in collaboration with Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) and Intelligent Epitaxy Inc (Intelliepi) is proposing a systematic study with the following two objectives. (a) Optimization of the epitaxial growth parameters to reduce dark current noise, decrease growth defects, improve uniformity and increase device reliability and reproducibility (in collaboration with Intelliepi) (b) Explore novel detector architecture that leverages the bandgap engineering flexibility of the superlattice absorber combined with the barrier engineering capability of the 6.1 semiconductor family and integrate them into FPAs (in collaboration with RVS) As a part of this effort, the advances made in the improving the epitaxial growth procedure will be transitioned to Intelliepi and advances in the heterostructure design and FPA fabrication will be transitioned to RVS. The KIND lab has recently purchased a $1.35M Veeco Gen-10 MBE reactor with Sb and As valved cracker source capable of highly uniform growth on 3-inch wafers. SKI will have access to this reactor through the user facility at the Center for High Technology Materials (CHTM). In particular, we will explore a double-unipolar barrier design called PbIbN. The double-barrier heterostructure design (PbIbN) belongs to the family of band gap engineered SLS architectures, such as nBn , M-structure , W-structure , and complementary barrier infrared detector (CBIRD) . The improved performance of these SLS devices over the homojunction SLS detectors is credited to reduction in dark current by use of current blocking layers either in conduction or valence bands which reduce one or several dark current components. The PbIbN design further reduces noise in SLS-based detectors, since it contains wider bandgap potential barriers in both valence and conduction bands. In PbIbN detector design, the electron blocking (EB) layer sandwiched between P contact layer and absorber region blocks the minority carrier diffusion (electrons) current from P contact layer into the absorber region. Similarly the hole blocking (HB) layer blocks minority carrier diffusion (holes) current from N contact layer into the absorber region. Moreover, the electric field drop across the active region is small as compared to a conventional PIN design since there is significant amount of field drop across the EB and HB layers, which have a wider band gap compared to the absorber region. This reduction in electric field leads to very small depletion region and hence reduction in the Schockley-Read-Hall (SRH) generation-recombination component of dark current. The tunneling currents are also reduced due to significant reduction in field drop. Thus the device can be made diffusion limited over wide range of operating temperatures, thereby improving the performance of the device."
Dual-Band Focal Plane Arrays with Double Unipolar Barrier InAs/GaSb Superlattices,HQ0147-11-C-7603,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99886.00,SK Infrared LLC,Lobo Venture Lab 801 University Blvd Ste 100,,Albuquerque,NM,87106-4345,Yes,No,Yes,Sanchita Krishna,Chief Scientific Officer,(505) 453-3349,sanchita@skinfrared.com,Sanchita Krishna,Chief Scientific Officer,(505) 453-3349,sanchita@skinfrared.com,"In the proposed effort, SK Infrared LLC, a spin-off from the Krishna INfrared Detector (KIND) laboratory at the University of New Mexico (www.chtm.unm.edu/kind), in collaboration with Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) is proposing to develop a dual band based imager using a novel unipolar heterostructure design with Type II InAs/GaSb strained layer superlattice detectors. The dual bands that are chosen for this application are midwave infrared (MWIR, 3-5 & #61549;m) and the long wave infrared (LWIR, 8-14 & #61549;m). However, these devices can be designed for different wavelength bands to suit the application needs of the customer. The dual band detectors will be developed using a novel double unipolar barrier design called""PbIbN"". The advantage of the 6.1 family of semiconductors (InAs, GaSb and AlSb) is that it provides the device designer tremendous flexibility to control the valence band and conduction band offsets between the absorber and the barrier layers. The PbIbN device that will be investigated as a part of this proposal utilizes an electron barrier at the PI interface and a hole barrier at the IN interface. The unipolar barriers prevent the diffusion of minority carriers from either side of the absorber. Moreover, since the field drop is lower across the absorber region, the generation-recombination (GR) and tunneling currents are also reduced. The goal of the Phase I effort will be to demonstrate a single pixel PbIbN detector with dual band (MWIR/LWIR) operation with temporally simultaneous and spatially collocated detection. The Phase I option effort will transition this to an 8x8 array bonded to a fanout to determine the uniformity and reproducibility of the back-side illuminated devices. The Phase II effort will involve the demonstration of a 512x512 focal plane array in collaboration with RVS and their insertion into the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS)."
Automated Generation of Advanced Test Diagrams to Reduce Test Program Set Life-Cycle Costs,N68335-11-C-0198,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,1194420.00,Summit Test Solutions,4266 Linda Vista Dr.,,Fallbrook,CA,-,No,No,No,Ronald Taylor,Chief Technologist,(760) 310-5916,ron.taylor@summittests.com,Ronald Taylor,Chief Technologist,(760) 310-5916,ron.taylor@summittests.com,"The objective of this Phase II research project is to develop a process and associated tools to generate wiring test diagrams automatically using data compliant with the IEEE Automatic Test Markup Language (ATML) family of standards. Test diagrams show the routing of signals from instruments to Unit Under Test (UUT) pins for each test in an automatic test program which tests a UUT on an Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) and are extremely useful in the troubleshooting of a Test Program Set (TPS). Automating the test diagram generation process will decrease the lengthy time to generate test diagrams by eliminating many hours of analysis of test stations, test programs and associated interface hardware. The Phase I study identified methods to use ATML data to generate test diagrams which provides a much desired open systems approach and will be employed in Phase II. Phase II work will also consist of producing ATML development tools for the ATML Test Station and Test Adapter to assist in the generation of ATML instance files, the resultant files will be used as an input to the test diagram tool. Phase I demonstrated that ATML support tools are essential for cost effective implementation of the ATML standards."
High Specific Activity Sm-153 by Post Irradiation Isotope Separation,DE-FG02-11ER90169,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,1,149476.00,IsoTherapeutics Group LLC,1004 S. Velasco,,Angleton,TX,77515-5250,No,No,No,R. K. Frank,Dr.,979-848-0800,keithfrank@isotherapeutics.com,Jaime Simon,Dr.,979-848-0800,jimsimon@isotherapeutics.com,"When the stable samarium-152 (Sm-152) isotope is irradiated, radioactive samarium-153 (Sm-153) is produced through a neutron capture reaction in yields of only about 2%, and this radioactive, therapeutic isotope (Sm-153) cannot be separated from the much more abundant (~98%) non-radioactive isotope (Sm-152) by chemical methods. Successful development of a new process using electromagnetic mass separation will allow isolating the Sm-153 from the Sm-152 and other unwanted impurities, yielding high specific activity Sm-153 applicable for multiple therapeutic uses as well as recovering the target material Sm-152 for further irradiation and Sm-153 production. The radioisotope 153Sm (t1/2=46.3 h), produced through a neutron capture (n,) reaction, is used in radiopharmaceuticals and other nuclear medicine applications. The nuclear reactor at the University of Missouri has demonstrated that it can make large quantities of Sm-153; however the specific activity (SA, radioactivity per gram) is low relative to the large amount of target material152Smplus very small quantities of other unwanted europium contaminants. Chemical separation cannot be used to perform isotopic separation and the only approach that can be applied to increase the specific activity significantly (~50% or higher) is electromagnetic mass separation, i.e., performing isotopic purity by removing the unwanted isotopes. Further, with mass separation, not only can one collect the product of interest153Smimplanted on a material of choice for any necessary post-chemical processing, but the target isotope 152Sm can be collected for recycling in the irradiation step (see Figure 1). In addition, this approach is potentially applicable to other needed radiolanthanides. Phase I of the work will demonstrate the feasibility of this approach to increase the specific activity of the 153Sm based upon a thorough literature study and some experimental measurements, and will develop the concept of an appropriate facility from beginning to final product. In a subsequent Phase II project, a facility based upon the design concepts determine in Phase I will be constructed and installed at the MURR facility at the University of Missouri to produce high levels of 153Sm to be used in subsequent radiopharmaceutical studies by IsoTherapeutics Group, LLC (ITG). The final specifications of all facilities must meet the needs of the final commercial usage. The actual mass spectrometer facility is planned for positioning at the MURR facility, which is the nations sole supplier of 153Sm, and the MURR group plays an essential role in determining the final detailed specifications. The Advanced Applied Physics Solutions (AAPS) team will provide necessary technical expertise under appropriate documentation to protect their intellectual property provided to the collaborating groups. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: IsoTherapeutics Group, LLC has applications for the final productradioisotopes of high specific activity. A current radiopharmaceutical using Sm-153 is Quadramet, a bone pain palliation agent. Sales of Quadramet in 2007 were $9.3 million, which was deemed to represent about 10% of its market potential (1). The limited use of Quadramet in part may be due to its limited availabilityTuesday through Thursdaydue to its low specific activity and the presence of long-lived europium contaminants that take the radiochemical out of specification after two half-lives. If successful the purified, high specific activity Sm-153 should increase and extend its shelf-life, making it available throughout the week. The higher specific activity Sm-153 will have greater applications in targeted radiotherapy, such as with peptides and antibody fragments, where tumor cell receptors for the drug are limited"
Attomole-Level High-Throughput Genomics,4R44HG005279-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1502971.00,HELICOS BIOSCIENCE CORPORATION,ONE KENDALL SQUARE,,CAMBRIDGE,MA,02139-,No,No,No,Patrice M. Milos,,617-264-1897,pmilos@helicosbio.com,Patrice M. Milos,,617-264-1897,pmilos@helicosbio.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Tremendous advances in genomics during the past two decades hold great potential for the development of new health innovations. For this potential to be realized in the form of advances in biomedical research and novelprevention, diagnosis, treatment and disease management strategies, we must overcome one technological barrier, namely the ability to perform reliable molecular profiling analyses of low quantity cells/nucleic acid material. Current technologies are not suitable for most low-quantity nucleic applications, and require multiple nucleic acid manipulation and amplification steps that are known to introduce biases and artifacts that confound downstream analyses and reduce/eliminate quantitative power. This grantapplication proposes various strategies for picogram-level DNA and RNA samples to be profiled in an unbiased and amplification-free, high-throughput manner, and paves the way towards single cell measurements. In Phase I, we will set the groundwork for unprecedented technologies enabling attomole-level, amplification-free high- throughput genomics tools. The Phase I specific aims are: (1) Optimization of DNA tailing and sequencing surface capture steps, (2) Development of DNA fragmentation strategies suitable for low DNA quantities, (3) Specific capture and sequencing of polyA+ mRNA from total RNA, and (4) Development of single-step sequence selection and single molecule sequencing technology. In Phase II, we will expand our work from Phase I to develop mature procedures ready for commercialization. The Phase II specific aims are: (1) High- throughput sequencing of limiting DNA samples, (2) Sequencing minute polyA+ RNA quantities using direct RNA sequencing, (3) Optimization of tailing and surface capture steps for direct RNA sequencing, (4) cDNA- based low-quantity RNA sequencing on surface, and (5) Development of a sequencing strategy for damaged and limited quantity nucleic acid samples. These advancements will enable various long desired and needed studies, open new research frontiers and provide a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying disease states, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and others, ultimately leading to revolutionary new ways to diagnose, treat and preventhuman disease. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The sequencing of the first human genome was an unprecedented scientific achievement derived from 13 years of effort by an international coalition of scientists and some 3 billion in funds. The availabilityof a complete human genome sequence has facilitated research by providing a framework for the genome, now being used for further investigation into the biological mechanisms underlying human disease. Technological advancements now enable sequencing of genomes at a fraction of the time and cost, and the widespread application of high-throughput sequencing technologies has transformed the biomedical research field. However, several fundamental technical shortcomings still remain. Among these limitations, arguably the most critical one is the requirement for high-quantities of valuable input material, namely DNA/RNA. Progress in many research areas, such as, but not limited to, stem cell biology, microbiology, cancer, paleoarcheology, forensics, and clinical diagnostics, is severely impeded by our inability to perform comprehensive and reliable molecular profiling analyses on low-quantity cell and nucleic acid samples. If we are to successfully translate this research knowledge of genome biology to better diagnosing and treating human disease, we must reliably use and analyze minute quantities of nucleic acid derived from patient specimens. This grant application proposes various strategies for picogram-level DNA and RNA samples to be profiled in an unbiased andamplification-free, high-throughput manner, and paves the way towards single cell measurements. These advancements will enable various long desired and needed studies, open new research frontiers and provide a comprehensive understanding of the biologicalmechanisms underlying disease states, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and others, ultimately leading to revolutionary new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent human disease."
Hemodynamic Co-Culture Liver Model for Drug Discovery and Assessment,1R43DK091104-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,190786.00,"HEMOSHEAR, LLC","HEMOSHEAR, LLC",1115 5TH ST SW,CHARLOTTESVILLE,VA,22902-6465,No,No,No,James Powers,,434-872-0198,powers@hemoshear.com,Brett R. Blackman,,434-872-0198,blackman@hemoshear.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Drug developers desperately need better tools in the laboratory to improve the 90% failure rate of drugs in clinical trials. Liver toxicity is still the leading cause of drug failure, despite extensive preclinical testing in surrogate animal species. HemoShear develops human surrogate technologies for target ID and validation and screening of compounds for safety and efficacy in the late discovery and early pre-clinical stages. HemoShear has developed a human vascular surrogate technology for identification and validation of novel targets and for screening and selection of optimal compounds for further development (US Patent 60/879,710 under review). Our human vascular surrogate device uniquely mimics the vascular anatomy(co- culture containing endothelial and smooth muscle cells, separated by a porous membrane) and hemodynamic environment during the early stages of atherosclerosis. The device enables investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of human atherosclerosis and the identification of novel biomarkers and transcriptional pathways for development of improved drug therapies. Cell-based surrogate models are being used increasingly during drug development to provide more accurate predictions of human responses. This Phase I SBIR application proposes to develop a hemodynamic co-culture model of the liver using HemoShear's proprietary platform technology that will represent a far superior system with which to screen drug potential for hepatotoxicity, determine mechanisms of liver toxicity and identify novel targets for therapy. It is widely known that static, monoculture hepatocyte models utilized to study drug efficacy and toxicity are not predictive of the in vivo response, and represent ineffective models for target identification and validation in the drug development process because of the inherent loss of differentiated phenotype. Like the vasculature, recreating anatomical and physiological features important to normal liver function is necessary for aneffective ex vivo model. For example, the biological response of the liver in vivo to both endogenous substrates as well as exogenous factors is dependent on the direct and indirect 'cross-talk' between the different cell types of the endothelium and epithelium. In addition, their survival and gene expression profiles are largely dependent on the local hemodynamics. Thus, the overall goal of this proposal is to develop a rat liver co-culture surrogate model that mimics in vivo physiology and hemodynamics. The model will consist of sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) and hepatocytes in co-culture where the SECs are exposed to sinusoid fluid hemodynamics, recreating in vivo cell phenotypes, ex vivo. If successful, this system will allow pharmaceutical companies to better understand the specific mechanism-of-action for drug efficacy and pre-clinical safety/toxicity compared to current monoculture, static systems. Additionally, success of this Phase I SBIR will lead to a Phase II application to develop a more advanced human model of hepatotoxicity and inflammatory disease, incorporating additional cell types, e.g. Kupffer and stellate cells. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Drug developers desperately need better tools in the laboratory to improve the 90% failure rate of drugs in clinical trials. Liver toxicity is still the leading cause of drug failure, despite extensive preclinical testing in surrogate animal species. HemoShear develops human surrogate technologies for target ID and validation and screening of compounds for safety and efficacy in the late discovery and early pre-clinical stages. This Phase I SBIR application proposes to develop a hemodynamic rat sinusoidal endothelial cell and hepatocyte co-culture model of the liver using HemoShear's proprietary platform technology; which will represent a far superior system to screen drug potential for hepatotoxicity, determine mechanisms of liver toxicity and identify novel targets for therapy. Success of this Phase I SBIR will lead to a Phase II application to develop a more advanced human model of hepatotoxicity and inflammatory disease, incorporating additional cell types, e.g. Kupffer and stellate cells."
Creating a predictive vascular system for early development,2R44HL102951-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,4293883.00,"HEMOSHEAR, LLC","HEMOSHEAR, LLC",1115 5TH ST SW,CHARLOTTESVILLE,VA,22902-6465,No,No,No,James Powers,,434-872-0198,powers@hemoshear.com,Brett R. Blackman,,434-872-0198,blackman@hemoshear.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The frequent inability of in vitro assays and animal models to accurately predict human response to a new drug candidate results in costly drug development failures. HemoShear has developed a platform technology for biodiscovery and drug pharmacology screening that replicates human biological function in healthy and diseased organ systems by applying human-derived hemodynamic shear stress forces to primary human cells in co-culture. Our initial system replicates the human vascular system and enables the creation of disease conditions including vascular inflammation, early atherogenesis and diabetic complications. Our novel technology is being deployed for customers to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of human vascular inflammation and the identification of novel biomarkers and transcriptional pathways for development of drug therapies. Completed Phase I: The objective of our completed Phase I proposal was to develop a more advanced pro-inflammatory systemthat profiles the human vascular response (EC/SMC) to oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), which has a widely recognized role in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. We are already using the Phase I advanced inflammatory system for functional assays, target validation and knock-down experiments for our customers. The Problem: There does not exist an in vitro human vascular pharmacology system that can guide pharma and biotech in making key go-/no-go decisions in drug discovery and development. Furthermore, the FDA now requires that vascular risk must be more thoroughly addressed during drug development, especially for Type 2 anti-diabetic therapies, and the need for a predictive vascular pharmacology system has been confirmed by pharma industryexecutives and customers (see Letters of Support). Proposed Phase II: The purpose of this Phase II SBIR proposal is to develop a predictive vascular pharmacology system for late-stage drug discovery and preclinical drug development. The HemoShear vascularsystem, developed in Phase I above, will be used to evaluate known drug compounds across a broad range of drug classes that have the following effects on the vasculature: 1) direct/intended effect (e.g. Ca channel blockers), 2) positive pleiotropic effect(e.g. statins) and 3) negative pleiotropic effect (e.g. rosiglitazone, Vioxx), in order to create a robust database of drug-related vascular effect profiles. We will use proprietary bioinformatics methods to develop a vascular signature predictor panel (~30 genes) from whole genome data sets that can be used for screening and scoring candidate compounds for vascular pharmacology response and potential safety risk. Value: Success of this Phase II SBIR will provide a predictive set of tools with which to assess human vascular response of customers' novel drug compounds, prior to human studies. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Over 90% of drugs that enter Phase I clinical trials ultimately fail because of lack of efficacy or adverse effects. It is estimated that65bln is spent annually in discovery, pre-clinical and clinical drug development. Much of that expenditure is wasted on failure, largely because of the inability of in vitro assays and animal models to accurately predict human response to a new drug candidate. HemoShear has developed a platform technology for biodiscovery and drug screening that replicates human biological function in healthy and diseased organ systems by applying human-derived hemodynamic shear stress forces to primary human cells in co-culture. HemoShear's patented system has been shown to validate efficacy, safety and off-target effects of known, FDA-approved drug compounds. The purpose of this Phase II SBIR proposal is to develop a predictive vascular pharmacology system to assess newdrug compounds in late-stage drug discovery and preclinical drug development."
A novel approach to discover selective small molecule inhibitors of FABP4 and FAB,1R43DK091029-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,299807.00,"CARMOT THERAPEUTICS, INC.",409 ILLINOIS ST,,SAN FRANCISCO,CA,-,No,No,No,Daniel A. Erlanson,,415-978-2159,derlanson@carmot.us,Daniel A. Erlanson,,415-978-2159,derlanson@carmot.us,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A novel approach to discover selective small molecule inhibitors of FABP4 and FABP5 for the treatment of metabolic diseases The Western diet and lifestyle has brought an epidemic of health problems collectively referredto as metabolic syndrome. Obesity plays a central role, contributing to type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, and degenerative disorders including dementia, airway diseases, and even some cancers. Diet and exercise are the best means to tackle metabolic diseases but often fail to halt disease progression, and pharmacological intervention is often necessary. Among the many potential drug targets for tackling metabolic disorders, two members of the family of fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are particularly compelling. The FABPs consist of nine distinct but closely related proteins; as their name suggests, they play major roles in transporting fatty acids throughout cells and in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Experiments in rodents suggest that reducing the activity of either FABP4 or FABP5 has moderate effects on a variety of metabolic indicators, but that reducing the activity of both FABP4 and FABP5 provides significant benefits protecting against obesity, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and even extends lifespan. However, effective and safe drugs must be highly selective: reducing the activity of FABP2 causes weight gain and elevated insulin levels, while reducing the activity of FABP3 causes heart problems. This Phase I SBIRhas three specific aims. In the first aim, Carmot will apply a novel small molecule lead discovery technology called Chemotype Evolution to FABP4 with the goal of discovering at least 20 potent inhibitors. Chemotype Evolution is a fragment-based approach designed to find selective inhibitors against difficult protein targets, and so fulfilling the first goal will not only identify useful molecules but also demonstrate that the technology can deliver a wide variety of starting points for a therapeutically important target. In the second aim, Carmot will explore selectivity against FABP2, FABP3, and FABP5. The goal is to discover at least 5 compounds with high potency against both FABP4 and FAPB5 and good selectivity against FABP2 and FABP3. This will demonstrate that the technology can deliver selective inhibitors against closely related members of a single protein family. The third aim is to identify at least two compounds with the desired selectivity profile that also show good cell-based potency. These molecules will certainly be useful tools for dissecting the FABP pathways. More importantly, these molecules could be potential therapeutics for treating a variety of metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. The goal of a Phase II SBIR would be to further develop the resulting molecules in preclinical animal models prior to human development. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: A novel approach to discover selective small molecule inhibitors of FABP4 and FABP5 for the treatment of metabolic diseases This proposal is to use a powerful new drug discovery technology to identify highly selective inhibitors of two proteins implicated in a variety of metabolic diseases. These inhibitors will become the starting points for new therapeutics to treat unmet medical needs such as obesity and diabetes."
Development of a Listeria monocytogenes - based therapeutic HBV vaccine,1R43AI088940-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,188315.00,ADURO BIOTECH,"626 BANCROFT WAY, 3C",,BERKELEY,CA,-,No,No,No,Nancy Kaplan,,510-848-4400,nkaplan@adurobiotech.com,Peter M. Lauer,,510-848-4400,plauer@adurobiotech.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite the availability of a safe and effective prophylactic vaccine for hepatitis B virus (HBV), each year a significant number of new infections are reported to the CDC in the United States. Worldwide more than 2 billion people have been infected with HBV, and more than 350 million have developed chronic infections, which frequently lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. None of the currently available antiviral therapies result in clearance of HBV infection whichcomplicates the goal of eradicating HBV in the US. Clearly, new treatments of chronic HBV infections are needed. Notably, studies in chronically infected chimpanzees and liver transplant patients demonstrated a causal role for T cells during HBV viral clearance. This suggests that active immunotherapies which induce potent T cell immunity may be effective for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Recent advances in the field of bacterial-based vaccine vectors have shown promising results for infectious disease-targeted immunotherapy. One such example is the use of live-attenuated and killed strains of the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). Lm represents an attractive platform for therapeutic HBV vaccines due to its ability to induce robustinnate immunity as well as acquired CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immunity. T cells represent the immune system's most potent weapon against chronic viral infections such as HBV. However, Lm is a pathogenic infectious agent in man, and in order to provide an appropriate therapeutic window, we have developed two highly attenuated vaccine platforms. The first is live- attenuated Lm in which two virulence genes have been completely deleted from the bacterial chromosome (Lm actA inlB). The second platform is based onLm that is inactivated in such a way to prevent its replication while retaining its metabolic activity. These killed but metabolically active (KBMA) Lm are still able to induce robust cellular immunity and therefore provide a promising approach for therapeutic vaccine development. The live-attenuated Lm platform has already been tested clinically under three separate U.S. Investigational New Drug Applications (INDs), and is therefore the more advanced of the two approaches. Our proposal will help to define an Lm-based clinical vaccine candidate in the setting of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The overall goal of this NIH SBIR Phase 1 proposal is to establish proof-of-concept (POC) to support the initiation of a development program for a KBMA Lm-basedhepatitis B therapeutic vaccine expressing several HBV antigens (HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBV Pol), that ultimately results in safety and efficacy testing in human clinical trials. To this end, we propose the following aims: (1) Construct a panel of recombinantHBV antigen-expressing Lm strains; (2) Select the best monovalent configuration for each HBV Ag based ability to stimulate a reporter T cell line, expression of HBV antigens in cell culture, and immunogenicity in mice; and (3) Select a polyvalent KBMA Lm HBV clinical vaccine strain candidate for further development. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: An effective treatment for hepatitis B virus infection remains a significant unmet medical need in the United States and worldwide, despite the availability of a safeand effective prophylactic vaccine. Current small molecule-based treatments suppress viral gene expression, but fail to induce viral clearance. Recent findings in chronically infected chimpanzees and liver transplant patients suggest that therapeutic vaccines which induce multifunctional T cell immunity may be effective for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B."
Improving self delivering properties of RNAi compounds through medicinal chemistr,1R43GM096548-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,273824.00,RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION,1500 West Park Drive,Suite 210,Westborough,MA,01581-,No,No,No,Margaret Halfpenny,,508-929-3650,mhalfpenny@rxipharma.com,Kevin Fettes,,508-929-3650,kfettes@rxipharma.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Introduction of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into cells with transfection reagents results in potent and specific gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi). Unfortunately, while siRNA-based drugs represent a potentially significant therapeutic paradigm, the ability to apply this technology to human disease has been impeded by the absence of efficient and non-toxic in vivo delivery systems. We recently developed a novel configuration of covalently modified RNAi compounds that do not require a delivery vehicle to enter cells and have improved pharmacology compared to traditional siRNAs. We term these compounds self-delivering rxRNA or sd-rxRNA. The objective of this proposal is to synthesize a novel panel of second generation sd- rxRNA compounds with improved potency and pharmacology by incorporating modified nucleotide bases with lipophilic moieties. A panel of lipophilically modified nucleotide phosphoramidites (pre-cursor monomers) using position 5 of a uracil willbe synthesized for initial screening. These lipophilic monomers will be incorporated into an array of RNAi compounds that will be tested for enhanced potency in biological systems. Completion of this project is expected to develop a next generation of self-delivering rxRNA compounds with at least an order of magnitude better potency and improved pharmacology that can be used to develop RNAi drug candidates in multiple therapeutic areas. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: RNAi (RNA interference) has the potential to treat human disease by down regulating disease causing genes; however, efficient delivery to diseased tissue is a major road block for therapeutic development of RNAi. We have recently developed chemically modified RNAi compounds that enter cells invivo ( self-delivering RNAi compounds). By incorporating lipophilic modified nucleotide bases, this project is expected to provide more potent self-delivering rxRNA designs with improved pharmacology for clinical applications."
Novel RNAi therapy for ALS and other Neurodegenerative Disorders,1R43NS074671-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,304559.00,RXI PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATION,1500 West Park Drive,Suite 210,Westborough,MA,01581-,No,No,No,Margaret Halfpenny,,508-929-3650,mhalfpenny@rxipharma.com,Anastasia Khvorova,,508-767-3861,akhvorova@rxipharma.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Summary / Abstract Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons in the central nervous system. Degeneration of the motor neurons results in paralysis and eventual death, usually due to respiratory failure. In a subset of cases, ALS is caused by dominantly transmitted mutations in the gene encoding cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Transgenic expression of mutant SOD1 causes ALS in mice. In thesemice, suppression of expression of the transgene using either antisense oligonucleotides or siRNA slows progression and improves survival. While siRNA-based drugs represent a potential therapeutic paradigm for the treatment of CNS and other disorders, theability to apply this technology to human disease has been impeded by the absence of efficient and non-toxic in vivo delivery systems. We have recently developed a novel class of covalently modified RNAi compounds that do not require a delivery vehicle toenter cells and have improved pharmacology compared to traditional siRNAs. We term these compounds self-delivering rxRNA or sd-rxRNATM. sd-rxRNA is a hydrophobically modified RNAi-antisense hybrid, which has been demonstrated to be highly efficacious invivo upon local administration. Robust silencing without toxicity has been demonstrated after intradermal and intravitreal injection, where ug doses induce potent and long lasting silencing. We have already identified an sd-rxRNA compound targeting the SOD1 gene and have demonstrated delivery to spinal cord using implanted intrathecal pumps. Intrathecal administration is a clinically relevant delivery mode that has been used previously for ALS. The objective of this proposal is to optimize and characterizesd-rxRNA technology for gene silencing in spinal cord and development of SOD1 targeting therapeutics for treatment of ALS. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Narrative RNAi (RNA interference) has the potential to treat human disease by down-regulation ofdisease causing genes. However, efficient delivery is a major road block for therapeutic development of RNAi. We have recently developed chemically modified RNAi compounds that enter cells in vivo ( self-delivering RNAi compounds). This project will explore the use of these compounds in spinal cord delivery, in particular for silencing of SOD1 in familial cases of ALS."
"A Double-Blinded Comparison of the Accuracy of ShuntCheck, a Non-Invasive Device",1R43NS067770-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,210038.00,"NEURODX DEVELOPMENT, LLC",3333 Street Road,SUITE 210,Bensalem,PA,-,No,No,No,Frederick J. Fritx,,609-865-4426,ffritz@neurodx.com,Marek Swoboda,,215-645-1280,dr.marekswoboda@gmail.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Phase 1 SBIR will develop a non-invasive alternative to radionuclide shunt patency testing for evaluating Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) patients with suspected shunt malfunction. Hydrocephalus is a disorder of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics that is commonly treated by placing a shunt that carries excess fluid from the brain to the abdomen. While this treatment is generally successful, shunts inevitably fail, usually by obstruction. The clinical signs of shunt obstruction, the gradual decline into dementia-like symptoms, make shunt failure challenging to diagnose. Suspected obstruction in NPH patients is typically investigated using an invasive radionuclide shunt patency study. There are currently no non-invasive,non- radiological techniques for the early diagnosis of shunt obstruction. NeuroDx Development (NeuroDx) is developing a tool, ShuntCheck, for rapid, non-invasive measurement of CSF flow through a VP shunt by transcutaneous temperature detection as cooledCSF moves through the shunt tubing. The resulting hand-held device is a convenient method for rapidly determining shunt function. Key to translating this device into the NPH clinic is the completion of a clinical validation study to compare the device's diagnostic sensitivity and specificity to radionuclide testing. The goal of this Phase 1 project is to complete a 25 patient clinical study of ShuntCheck compared to radionuclide. In Phase 2, we anticipate conducting a multi-center outcomes study of ShuntCheck as a shunt patency test for NPH patients. This study will be conducted as a pivotal trial and will be used to support expanded labeling for ShuntCheck. The result of this study could be an important change in the diagnostic algorithm currently used tomanage symptomatic NPH patients. Given the need for a non-invasive method to accurately diagnose shunt failure, the potential savings over alternative methods and the potential for improved patient outcomes, the data from this study will support a productwhich is commercially viable and extremely important. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal addresses the need for diagnostic tools for use in a hospital or outpatient setting that work in real-time to quantitatively determine shunt function by supporting a clinical study comparing the accuracy of a non-invasive device, ShuntCheck, to the current invasive gold standard, radionuclide testing, in diagnosing shunt malfunction in adult normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) patients. The results of this study could support an important change in the standard diagnostic pathway currently used to manage symptomatic NPH patients."
Continuous Real Time CSF Shunt Flow Monitor ShuntCheck,1R43NS074486-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,257203.00,"NEURODX DEVELOPMENT, LLC",3333 Street Road,SUITE 210,Bensalem,PA,-,No,No,No,Frederick J. Fritx,,609-865-4426,ffritz@neurodx.com,Marek Swoboda,,215-645-1280,dr.marekswoboda@gmail.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Phase 1 SBIR will develop Continuous Real Time (CRT) ShuntCheck, the first portable, non- invasive device for real time, continuous monitoring of flow in CSF shunts. This device will result in improved clinicalmanagement of hydrocephalus by providing a rapid and non-invasive method for detecting CSF shunt obstruction in symptomatic patients, and for monitoring and researching shunt function in asymptomatic patients. Hydrocephalus, a common condition in which CSF accumulates in the brain ventricles, is corrected by placing a VP shunt that drains excess CSF to the abdomen. Shunts frequently malfunction, usually by obstruction, but the symptoms of shunt failure are unspecific - headache, nausea. Diagnosis of shuntmalfunction is expensive and presents risks (exposure to radiation from CT Scans, risk of infection from radionuclide testing) and regular, ongoing clinical management of shunted patients is complex (due to a lack of tools for investigating CSF over drainage, for assessing the performance of specific shunt valves and siphon control devices and for streamlining the adjustment of programmable shunt valves). A new, non-invasive thermal dilution test for shunt flow, ShuntCheck, has reduced diagnostic specificity due to intermittent shunt flow - patent shunts do not flow continuously, leading to a high level of false positive readings. There are currently no non-invasive, non-radiologic technologies for assessing shunt function and malfunction. The goal of this Phase 1 project is to develop a prototype device which continuously monitors CSF flow via thermal dilution, and to verify it in a bench and validate it in an animal model of CSF flow. The program is based upon a breakthrough innovation in our thermal dilution technology which allows for long term, continuous CSF flow measurement (like a Holter test for CSF flow). Our Phase 2 goal will be to conduct a full scale clinical study to assess the diagnostic accuracy and utility of our non-invasive test in identifying shunt malfunction in hydrocephalus patients. An important additional outcome of this project will likely be a new tool for better understanding shunt and CSF flow behavior in hydrocephalus patients. Shunt malfunction and management testing constitute approximately 600,000 shunt flow tests annually in the United States alone. NeuroDx's business model for this product involves the generation of revenue primarily from the ongoing sale of single- use, disposable sensors for these tests. The need for new diagnostic tools for managing hydrocephalus patients is highlighted by the NIH announcement Advanced Tools and Technologies for Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts (PA-09-206), to which this proposal is responding. Our proposal directly responds to the request for Diagnostic tools for use in a hospital or outpatient setting that work in real-time to quantitatively determine shunt function. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal addresses the need for diagnostic tools for use in a hospital or outpatient setting that work in real-time to quantitatively determine shunt function by providing the first portable, non-invasive device for continuous monitoring of flow in CSF shunts. Obstruction of CSF shunts, a common complication in hydrocephalus, is currently diagnosed by radiation imaging techniques, such as CT Scan, or by invasive procedures, such as shunt tapping. This new tool will help neurosurgeons differentiate between intermittently flowing and obstructed shunts and will provide a valuable research tool forunderstanding shunt function."
"Validation of ShuntCheck-Micro-Pumper, a non-invasive diagnostic procedure for de",2R44NS067772-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,2989549.00,"NEURODX DEVELOPMENT, LLC",3333 Street Road,SUITE 210,Bensalem,PA,-,No,No,No,Frederick J. Fritx,,609-865-4426,ffritz@neurodx.com,Marek Swoboda,,215-645-1280,dr.marekswoboda@gmail.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Phase 2 SBIR will provide and clinically validate the first portable, non-invasive diagnostic test for differentiating intermittently flowing patent shunts from occluded or partially occluded shunts - ShuntCheck- Micro-Pumper. This device will result in improved clinical management of hydrocephalus by providing a rapid and non-invasive method for detecting CSF shunt obstruction in symptomatic patients, and, potentially for identifying oncoming occlusion before symptoms emerge. Hydrocephalus, a common condition in which CSF accumulates in the brain ventricles, is corrected by placing a VP shunt that drains excess CSF to the abdomen. Shunts frequently malfunction, usually by obstruction, but the symptoms of shunt failure are unspecific - headache, nausea. Diagnosis of shunt malfunction is expensive and presents risks (exposure to radiation from CT Scans, risk of infection from radionuclide testing) and no tools exist for predicting shunt malfunction. There are currently no non-invasive, non-radiologic technologies for assessing shunt function and malfunction. NeuroDx has developed a non-invasive device called ShuntCheck which uses thermal dilution to detect CSF flow in subcutaneous shunts. While clinical studies of ShuntCheck demonstrated the accuracy of flow/no-flow measurements, they showed that no-flow does not indicate an occluded shunt (since shunt flow can be intermittent) and flow does not indicate a patent shunt (since a partially occluded shunt can causeelevated ICP while allowing CSF flow). To address this problem, NeuroDx developed the Micro-Pumper, a small, handheld device which generates a temporary increase in CSF flow through patent but not occluded shunts. This micro-pumped flow can be detected by ShuntCheck as an indication of shunt flow capacity. In our Phase 1 studies, we developed operating parameters and a laboratory prototype Micro-Pumper that reliably generates increased CSF flow in a wide variety of patent, but not partially-obstructed, shunt valves. Repeated micro-pumping did not result in any adverse effects on shunt valve function. A pilot clinical study of the ShuntCheck-Micro-Pumper, currently underway at Children's Hospital Boston, indicates that the procedure is acceptable to pediatric patients and generates detectable flows in patent shunts. In Phase 2, we plan to develop a production ready version of the Micro-Pumper, optimize the ShuntCheck design for use with the Micro-Pumper and validate the accuracy of the combined procedure inhuman clinical studies. Pediatric shunt malfunction and management testing constitute approximately 310,000 shunt flow tests annually in the United States alone. NeuroDx's business model for this product involves the generation of revenue primarily from the ongoing sale of single-use, disposable sensors for these tests. The need for new diagnostic tools for managing hydrocephalus patients is highlighted by the NIH announcement Advanced Tools and Technologies for Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts (PA-09-206), towhich this proposal is responding. Our proposal directly responds to the request for Diagnostic tools for use in a hospital or outpatient setting that work in real-time to quantitatively determine shunt function. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal addresses the need for diagnostic tools for use in a hospital or outpatient setting that work in real-time to quantitatively determine shunt function by providing the first portable, non-invasive diagnostic procedure for differentiating intermittently flowing patent shunts from occluded or partially occluded shunts. Obstruction of CSF shunts, a common complication in hydrocephalus, is currently diagnosed by radiation imaging techniques, such as CT Scan, or by invasive procedures, such as shunt tapping. This new tool will help neurosurgeons differentiate between intermittently flowing and obstructed shunts and potentially for identifying oncoming occlusion before symptoms emerge."
The Social Shape Up System,ediesccc0043,ED,ED,SBIR,2011,2,849999.00,"Teaching Research Institute, LLC",4968 Abelia Dr.,,Baton Rouge,LA,70808,Yes,No,No,Lynn Singletary,,,lsingletary7@cox.net,Lynn Singletary,,,lsingletary7@cox.net,"Purpose: In prior research, prosocial behaviors in grade school have been correlated with later academic achievement while anti-social behaviors have been associated with later poor academic achievement and deviance. To help teachers monitor students' social behavior, this project will develop a classroom conduct system that includes a mechanism for teachers to monitor social behavior.
Project Activities: In Phase I, the researchers developed a prototype of a classroom management system and tested the feasibility of implementation of the system in 10 classrooms. In general, teachers reported that the system was easy to use and helpful in tracking student behavior. In Phase II, development will focus on designing support materials for teachers and refining the system to provide both data processing and presentation functions. All basic aspects of the system (e.g., user access control, the behavior monitoring and reporting functions, and management functions) will be tested and refined. To gather data on the promise of the product to support improvements in student behavior, a pilot study will be conducted to test the product with 30 teachers over a two-month period. Half of the teachers will use the product and the other half will use the business-as-usual approach. Analyses will examine students across several areas of socio-emotional competence."
Readorium Software for Improved Reading Comprehension of Non-fiction Science Text,edies11c0042,ED,ED,SBIR,2011,2,849950.00,Mtelegence Corporation,541 Queen Road,,Teaneck,NJ,07666-,Yes,No,No,Harriet Isecke,,,harriet.isecke@readorium.com,Harriet Isecke,,,,"Purpose: Prior research indicates that reading difficulties in childhood become more problematic as students move to middle and high school where increasingly challenging material must be learned. Although some older students still struggle with decoding, many more have difficulty constructing meaning from text. Despite research that has identified strategies for teaching students to comprehend what they read, many teachers do not have the training or resources to utilize such techniques. The purpose of this project is to develop a web-based product to support struggling readers in understanding nonfiction text in the area of science.
Project Activities: In the Phase I portion of the project, the researchers developed and field tested the prototype in seven middle school science classrooms. Data from the field test showed that teachers and students were engaged while using the new technology. In Phase II, the team will fully develop the product through an iterative design, feedback, and refinement process. Features that will be strengthened include an avatar that provides formative feedback and a recall function to store data and replay lessons at any time. In addition, the researchers will expand the content to include 19 topics and refine the teacher management component. To assess implementation feasibility and usability of the technology, and to gather data on the promise of the product to improve reading comprehension, a randomized controlled study will be conducted in 18 middle school classrooms. Half of the classrooms will be randomly assigned to use the intervention as a supplement to the curriculum and half will continue to use business-as-usual practices. A standardized science assessment will be used to compare learning across the two conditions."
Development of an Active Cancellation of Tremor (ACT) System for Human Assistance,2R44NS070438-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,673460.00,LYNX DESIGN,12998 ROBLEDA RD,,LOS ALTOS HILLS,CA,94022-3454,No,No,No,Anupam J. Pathak,,650-605-3687,1apathak@gmail.com,Anupam Pathak,,650-605-3687,1apathak@gmail.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Essential Tremor (ET) is the single most common motion disorder, affecting 10 million people in the US alone. Due to the debilitating muscle movements associated with this disease, people with ET have difficulty in performing daily functions such as eating and drinking. As a result, many people become socially isolated and are also forced to retire from occupations held before the disease onset. Unfortunately, current pharmacological treatments have limited effectiveness in abating tremor, and surgical procedures can be expensive and invasive. To solve this problem, Lynx Design is investigating a cost-effective, lightweight, hand- held stabilization device called the ACT (Active Cancellation of Tremor) system. During Phase I work, a state- of-the-art hand-held prototype was developed and tested, demonstrating a reduction of tremor disturbances by up to 80% (for 1-2 cm). This result exceeded Phase I goals for technical feasibility and showed promise for future applications. Proposed Phase II work will focus on developing the ACT system further through a combination of clinical research and RandD. Key developments will focus on: 1) demonstrating/characterizing the technology's efficacy 2) improving control and long-term reliability and 3) designing the system for general use in daily activities (based on patient feedback). Detailed plans to commercialize the ACT system in the growing assistive device market are in place and will be executed after the Phase II work. The resulting distribution of the ACT technology will impact the growing population of ET sufferers, positively impacting their quality of life. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Lynx Design proposes to develop and commercialize an active tremor cancellation technology that will assist individuals affected by motion disorders such as Essential Tremor. Preliminary studies have demonstrated both feasibility of the technology and a strong unmet demand among suffering patients. The proposed system will be used to facilitate daily living, reduce social isolation, and re-enable the affected public to participate in activities and occupations that were lost upon disease onset."
A computerized neuro-plasticity based training module to remediate social cogniti,1R43MH091793-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,498004.00,"BRAIN PLASTICITY, INC.",625 Market St.,Ste 610,SAN FRANCISCO,CA,94105-,No,No,No,Mor Nahum,,415-230-3745,mor.nahum@brainplasticity.com,Mor Nahum,,415-230-2745,mor.nahum@brainplasticity.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The primary objective of this Phase I proposal is to develop and evaluate a novel, brain-based and web-deliverable multimedia training program targeting the treatment of social cognition deficits in schizophrenia. Social cognition impairments have been directly linked to patients' overall dysfunctionality, poor community functioning, and reduced life quality in schizophrenia, making it an especially appealing target for clinical intervention. However, current available treatments could be substantially improved in terms of efficiency, cost, scalability, and the positive changes they generate in untrained, real-life gains. There is therefore an acute need for the development of an effective therapeutic tool that would substantially improve social cognition in schizophrenia. With its potential effect on almost every aspect of the lives of these individuals, such a tool is expected to relieve the societal, functional and economic burden associated with this devastating illness. The proposed new training tool is derived from several ongoing advances in brain research. Specifically, increased understanding in how to apply brain-based methods in behavioral training to drive substantial functional changes, new insights into the dysfunctional brain areas associated with social cognition deficits in schizophrenia, and compelling new results showing the important added value of targeted social cognition training, all set the ground for this proposed new intervention. Guided by theseadvances, we now innovatively propose to combine the learning strategies derived from brain training principles with state-of-the-art web- based techniques to build and validate a novel, computerized training tool, which directly targets the neurological deficits that are at the core of social cognition impairments in schizophrenia. The complete suite of training exercises is expected to take social cognition treatment for schizophrenia to the next level, by offering both substantially more functional rehabilitation (given the brain-based and complete nature of training), along with a scalable, cost-effective treatment (by web-based resources). Our goals in this SBIR Phase I proposal are to develop, produce and validate the usability and feasibility of thisnew training program suite, which should include 19 adaptive, playable, exercises, in individuals with schizophrenia. In the past year we have already initiated the development and testing of 11 of the 19 proposed training exercises: Results from two pilot studies we conducted show promising prospects for the remediation abilities of this novel therapeutic tool. Our longer-term aims for Phase II are to use the data obtained in Phase I to further optimize the training program and conduct a large-scale, multiple-site, randomized, controlled trial to establish the efficacy and evaluate the broader clinical impact of this innovative intervention. By the end of Phase II, we shall have our product ready for commercialization as a low-cost, clinician-monitored, web-based therapy for the remediation of social cognition and related real-world functional abilities that debilitate the lives of millions of individuals struggling with schizophrenia. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This proposal represents a direct contribution to human health in that it should result in the production of a novel, brain-based, computerized, and cost-effective training program for the treatment of social cognition deficits in individuals with schizophrenia. Positive improvements in social cognition are a crucial facet of restoring the health and life-quality of the millions of individuals suffering from this devastating illness. Millions of other individuals with social cognition deficits can be expected to ultimately benefit greatly from the development of this new form of medicine."
Tonic and Phasic Alertness Training For Cognitive Decline in Aging,1R43AG039965-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,686014.00,"BRAIN PLASTICITY, INC.",625 Market St.,Ste 610,SAN FRANCISCO,CA,94105-,No,No,No,Thomas V. Vleet,,925-580-2806,tom.vanvleet@brainplasticity.com,Thomas Vanvleet,,925-580-2806,tom.vanvleet@brainplasticity.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The primary objective of this Phase I application is to develop and deploy a novel, neuroplasticity- based, computerized training program that has been shown to drive positive changes in attention, working memory and executive function in a vulnerable aging population. The training approach is based on the scientific principles of brain plasticity, implemented successfully in the past with measurable improvements in cognitive function following intensive training inthe elderly (1,26,47). The current approach is fundamentally novel in that it addresses the attentional state of the individual, promoting an optimal level of alertness that can then be applied to higher- order, cognitive abilities. Our data suggests thatthis approach may enable greater benefits from cognitive training and further generalization to untrained, resource demanding attention, working memory and executive tasks. Given the ease of access to the training regimen and its scalability (web deliverable), this form of therapy could benefit several million individuals, 65-years of age and older whose lives are limited by progressive, age-related cognitive and physical decline. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project represents the translation of an effective attention training therapy, originally conceived within the academic research sector, to the marketplace via collaboration between the original developers and Brain Plasticity, Inc. This application aims to develop and behaviorally evaluatethe benefits of a novel, neuroplasticity-based, computerized and web-deliverable training program suite that has been shown to drive substantial improvements in cognition. These outcomes are widely applicable to the cognitive health and life-quality of several million elderly Americans, and have further potential to offset degenerative processes common to normal aging."
A compact dose delivery system for proton radiation therapy,4R44CA150281-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1001810.00,"PROCURE TREATMENT CENTERS, INC.",420 N Walnut St,,BLOOMINGTON,IN,47404-,No,No,No,John Cameron,,812-323-8505,john.cameron@procure.com,John M. Cameron,,812-330-6633,john.cameron@procure.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In comparison to standard x-ray therapy, proton therapy allows an increased dose of radiation to a tumor and by reducing the amount of radiation to healthy tissue. As a result, it provides the best possible option for using radiation to control and eliminate tumors with the least short and long term toxic side effects. Currently less than 1% of all radiation therapy patients receive proton therapy while the number of patients that would benefit substantially from their use with current protocols is estimated to be over 30%. The major barriers to greater utilization of proton therapy are the size and cost of the facilities. The layout of the current proton therapy treatment centers is dominated by the size of the iso-centric gantries that rotate the proton beam dose delivery system around the patient. ProCure's focus for this project is to invent a new gantry concept using modern robotics and high temperature superconducting magnets that will greatly reduce the gantry sizeand mass, the power needed to operate it and consequently the contribution of these gantries to the facility cost. ProCure proposes to research new technology that would reduce the gantry mass by an order of magnitude and cost by a factor of three. PhaseI research will allow ProCure to determine the optimal design and components needed for a compact and low cost gantry based on novel beam scanning concepts and the use of high temperature superconducting magnet technology for use in Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy. In the first 12 months of Phase II, ProCure will work on constructing prototype magnets for the selected gantry concept, build key temporary magnet supports and nozzle components and in the next six months of Phase II, ProCure will carry out experiments using a full scale system in the Proton Dosimetry Test Facility recently commissioned at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility. In Phase III, ProCure will complete the tests of the magnetic and nozzle operation at IUCF and make initial submission to the FDA. ProCure will construct a first prototype of the full rotating mechanical support system for the gantry and install the full system for mechanical system tests. In parallel, ProCure will start the acquisition process for the first systemsthat will be installed. Finally, FDA complete system testing for full FDA 510k approval will be performed. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Proton therapy provides the best possible option for using radiation to control and eliminate tumors with the leastshort and long term toxic side effects; however, only less than 1% of all radiation therapy patients receive proton therapy. The major barriers to greater utilization of proton therapy are the size and cost of the facilities. ProCure's new proton beam delivery concept will greatly reduce the size and mass of the system and the power needed to operate it, and consequently, help to bring this highly effective form of cancer treatment to the mainstream of radiation therapy."
SBIR Phase I: Next Generation Electrical Impedance Myography for Neuromuscular Disease Assessment,1046826,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149956.00,"CONVERGENCE MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.","400 TradeCenter, Suite 5900",,Woburn,MA,01801-,No,No,No,Jose L. Bohorquez,DPhil,6173207998,bohorquez@cmdevices.com,Jose L. Bohorquez,,6173207998,bohorquez@cmdevices.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop an accurate, noninvasive, and cost-effective system for diagnosing and evaluating the severity of neuromuscular diseases. Millions of people in the US suffer from neuromuscular disorders, from generalized diseases like muscular dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to localized conditions including lumbosacral radiculopathy. Treatable neuromuscular disorders require ongoing evaluation for effective management, necessitating accurate diagnostic tools. In disorders where treatments are limited, clinical research trials demand improved methods for assessing disease severity and response to experimental treatment. The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel Electrical Impedance Myography (EIM) system for diagnosing and monitoring neuromuscular diseases. The device is based in the principles of bioimpedance analysis, but it will contain specific innovations that will dramatically improve its accuracy and frequency range relative to existing systems. The research objectives include building a prototype system, verifying its accuracy, and testing its repeatability on human subjects. It is anticipated that the system will quickly provide accurate information about disease condition, improving the treatment of patients with these diseases. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes: 1) substantially advancing individual patient care by providing a quick, easy, reproducible and sensitive diagnostic; 2) streamlining clinical trials studying diseases primarily resulting in muscle weakness and dysfunction (including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and others) by requiring fewer subjects and shorter periods of study; 3) reducing the cost of disease management; and 4) greatly advancing clinical care of children affected by these disorders by being non-invasive, painless, and requiring only limited cooperation. The proposed EIM system has the potential to exceed the usage of current diagnostic tools, with a potential market exceeding $100 million. The system is planned to initially target pharmaceutical companies that can benefit from it in drug discovery research. The system will then be sold directly to physicians who specialize in the care of those who suffer from these disorders."
"A device for rapid, painless, bedside muscle evaluation of children",1R43NS073188-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,289901.00,"CONVERGENCE MEDICAL DEVICES, INC.","400 TradeCenter, Suite 5900",,Woburn,MA,01801-,No,No,No,Jose L. Bohorquex,,617-320-7998,bohorquez@cmdevices.com,Jose L. Bohorquez,,617-320-7998,bohorquez@cmdevices.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our goal is to provide neurologists and other clinicians a method for the rapid, painless, non-invasive evaluation of children with neuromuscular disease. Pediatric neuromuscular disorders include muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophy, and inflammatory myositis, and affect well over 100,000 children in the United States alone. Present-day clinical measures to assess disease status such as muscle strength testing or the Hammersmith rating scale are limited ina number of ways, including their having limited reproducibility, a lack of sensitivity to subtle disease change, their being strongly dependent on excellent subject cooperation, marked floor and ceiling effects (i.e., the tests are uninformative in very mild or very advanced disease), and their requiring considerable evaluator expertise and training. In order to care for children affected by neuromuscular disorders more effectively, a non-invasive and painless tool that can rapidly and accurately assess disease status with minimal subject cooperation is greatly needed. Such a tool could be used with individual patients, providing valuable data on the effectiveness of ongoing treatment or the potential need to alter therapy. Equally important, the tool couldbe used in clinical drug trials, helping to identify potential therapies more sensitively, more quickly and with fewer subjects than currently possible, thus greatly reducing study cost. Electrical impedance myography (EIM), we believe, is such a tool. InEIM, non-detectible, low- intensity, alternating electrical current is applied through two surface electrodes and resulting surface voltages are measured. Multiple published studies, both in adults and children, support that EIM is both highly reproducible and very sensitive to disease status. Moreover, given its entirely non-invasive, painless nature, it makes it an especially promising tool for use in children. Convergence Medical Devices, Inc. has as its primary focus and core competency the applicationof EIM for the assessment of muscle health. The specific aims of this Phase I SBIR, are to: (1) develop a hand-held EIM device for neuromuscular assessment in children, (2) test the device in a group of healthy adults to verify that it is safe and yieldsquality EIM data, and (3) study a group of 15 healthy children and 15 children with one relatively common pediatric disease, spinal muscular atrophy, to identify the system's tolerances and repeatability and preliminarily assess its sensitivity to health and disease status. The successful completion of these three aims will yield a preliminary prototype EIM device optimized for use in children. The insights we obtain using this device in both healthy and diseased children will offer a strong foundation forfurther device/software refinement necessary before launching a longitudinal study assessing clinical efficacy as part of a planned Phase II SBIR. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Over 100,000 children in the United States alone suffer from one or moreserious neuromuscular diseases. However, current methods for diagnosing disease and assessing severity are insensitive and limited. The technique of electrical impedance myography has shown great promise as a technique for providing detailed data on musclehealth without the limitations of current methods. Thus, the overall goal of this project is to develop a handheld, noninvasive electrical impedance device that can perform accurate, rapid assessments of muscle health in children."
Definitive Studies For Use Of Galantamine As A Pre-Treatment Countermeasure Again,4R44NS068049-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,2456747.00,COUNTERVAIL CORPORATION,"200 FEDERAL ST, STE 219",,CAMDEN,NJ,08103-1062,No,No,No,George W. Basinger,,740-804-8612,BBasinger@CountervailCorp.com,Bill Basinger,,740-804-8612,BBasinger@cCountervailCorp.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Fast Track SBIR Phase I and Phase II Exposure to centrally acting military nerve agents and organophosphorus (OP) pesticides are known to cause death and neurological damage (Coupland 2005, Karalliedee 1989, Buckley 2004). Improved countermeasures to intoxication from these compounds are needed. In numerous studies (Albuquerque 2006) conducted at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine (UMB) supported by NIH grant NS059344, galantamine, has been shown to provide protection against the debilitating effects of these toxins. The purpose of this project is to complete IND enabling pre-clinical studies intended to move this drug with high potential for commercialization closer to availability. Countervail Corporation owns the commercialization rights to the intellectual property and is working as a business partner with the University of Maryland in advancing the drug technology toward availability. This SBIR grant proposal is being submitted under the NIH Fast Track mechanism. Phase I: Protective Ratio Studies to date, studies at UMB have evaluated OP exposures at levels where galantamine produces 100% survivability in guinea pig subjects. In published UMB studies (Albuquerque 2006), a pre-exposure dose of galantamine followed by a post exposure dose of atropine has been shown to enable survivability of 100% of the guinea pig animal subjects against OP toxin exposure levels of up to 2.0 x LD50. In studies referenced in the pyridostigmine bromide FDA Substantial Basis of Approval (SBA), a method referred to as the Protective Ratio was employed to evaluate protective capability against nerve agents. The purpose of the Protective Ratio method is to stress test the protective capability of the drug by determining the OP exposure level that produces a 1.0 x LD50 in the treated (protected) group of animals. The purpose of the phase I studies is to evaluate the protective characteristics of galantamine vs. pyridostigmine using the Protective Ratio method against exposure to soman and sarin. Phase II: PK and Efficacy GLP Studies Six IND enabling pre-clinical studies are planned for Phase II that will include non- primate and non-human primate species. 7 Pilot Guinea Pig Efficacy Studies 1 and 2 Objective: Identify the optimal level of galantamine to protect against soman at exposure levels of 1.5 x LD50 and 2.0 x LD50 respectively. 7 Definitive Guinea Pig Efficacy Study Objective: GLP efficacy testing for survivability and neural tissue protection with soman exposure levels and galantamine dosing levels determined in first two studies. 7 Guinea Pig Pharmacokinetics Study Objective: Collection of PK data at selected time points following galantamine dosing and exposure to soman. 7 Pilot Non-Human Primate Study Objective: Identifythe optimal level of galantamine to protect against soman at exposure levels of 1.5 x LD50 or 2.0 x LD50 in a second species. 7 Definitive Non-Human Primate Efficacy Study Objective: GLP efficacy testing for survivability and neural tissue protection against soman in a non-human primate model. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The public health value of providing an improved countermeasure to a nerve agent attack is self evident. These proposed pre-clinical trial studies will address comments raisedin a recent FDA pre-IND meeting as well as directly support the goal of the NINDS CounterACT program to facilitate development and availability of new chemical countermeasures. We expect this research will help lay the groundwork for expanded applicationsboth in nerve agents and organophosphorus pesticides."
Meal Planning and Exercise Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities,1R43HD068024-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,203503.00,DOUBLE S INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS,4350 BLANTON HEIGHTS RD,,EUGENE,OR,97405-2003,No,No,No,Martin R. Sheehan,,541-603-0304,DocMartin817@yahoo.com,Martin R. Sheehan,,541-603-0304,DocMartin817@yahoo.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): People with intellectual disabilities (ID) have rates of obesity greater than the general population. They often have poor energy dense diets and tend to be inactive. This group also experiences a high prevalence of health related problems: cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. There is a pressing need for weight loss programs targeted to the specific learning needs of this population. This project MPEP; Meal Planning and Exercise Program for Adults with ID, will use the best of the behavioral weight loss programs while incorporating a new, innovative, yet research-based approach for this population that focuses on prepackaged meals, meal plans, and simple exercise programs. The primary aims of thestudy are to develop the efficacy of a weight loss/weight maintenance program for overweight and obese adults with ID by providing individuals with ID and their care providers with information on nutrition, easy to implement and cost effective meal planning ideas, and exercise strategies. The intervention will be guided by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and will use both sides of the energy equation: energy intake and energy expenditure. The targeted population will be overweight/obese adults with ID who live at home, in foster homes, in group homes, or independently with supports. These living arrangements often make choosing a healthy diet and participating in physical activity difficult. The care providers frequently decide meal with input from the majority of the residents (if living in group situations). It is easy to serve the same foods and portion sizes to all residents or with parent as caregiver to give free choice to unhealthy foods. Financial and transportation issues also make it difficult for individuals with ID to participate in community-based physical activity programs. In this project, we will implement a research-based approach that focuses on healthy eating using a modification of the Stop Light Diet to include meal plans and pre-packaged foods and a home-based progressive walking program. In Phase I we will evaluate the feasibility of the impact of Session 1 (prepackaged entrees and a weekly meal plan). In Phase II we will evaluate the effectiveness of the entire package (meal planning and exercise for three months and weight maintenance for an additional six months) with a traditional diet group. Both groups will participate in a physical activity program that has been shown to improve metabolic risks factors in this population and has had modest weight loss in controlled settings. This program will be modified for home use. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Research on living a healthy lifestyles by healthy eating, weight loss, and physical activity, due to it implications with cancer, heartdisease, and a host of other secondary conditions, is highly relevant to public health. Individuals with ID are a population at risk due to their sedentary lifestyle. Additionally, a high percentage of them are obese or overweight. There is a pressing need to involve this group in healthy eating, nutrition education, and physical activities. By focusing on these individuals with ID, this program brings needed intervention tools for an underserved population."
Development of a novel PET imaging agent for prostate cancer,4R44CA153481-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1145108.00,"CANCER TARGETED TECHNOLOGY, LLC",14241 NE Woodinville-Duvall Road #143,,Woodinville,WA,98072-,No,No,No,Robert Wydro,,360-563-0356,rwydro@cancertargetedtechnology.com,Beatrice Langton-webster,,206-617-0699,bealw@cancertargetedtechnology.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): PSMA is an important biomarker for prostate cancer prognosis and an appropriate target for therapy due to its restricted expression mainly on late-stage, androgen-independent and metastatic prostate cancer cells. Whilecurrently there is only one clinical PSMA targeted agent for SPECT imaging (the antibody-based Prostascint ), high-affinity small-molecule inhibitors to PSMA have not been fully exploited for targeting and imaging prostate cancer. The overall objective ofthis application is to optimize a novel imaging probe for the in vivo detection of PSMA positive prostate tumors. Our central hypothesis for the proposed work is that an F-18 labeled irreversible inhibitor to PSMA coupled with PET scan could be used for prostate cancer staging as well as localization of lymph and bone metastasis. The rationale for undertaking the proposed research is that optimized F-18 labeled PSMA imaging constructs will serve as the foundation for a clinically relevant imaging modality for the diagnosis and post-treatment assessment of prostate cancer. This labeling needs to be in a chemistry that is readily available to the growing number of hospitals with cyclotrons and PET scanners. Additionally, demonstrating the effectiveness of ourprostate tumor imaging probes in vivo and safety in animal models will serve as initial steps for the subsequent development of a radiotherapeutic agent for clinical use. The PIs will test the central hypothesis and accomplish the overall objective of thisapplication by pursuing the following specific aims: Phase I 1) optimize the nucleophilic 18F labeling of CTT-54; 2) chemical/biochemical evaluation of lead compounds from AIM 1. Phase II Aims: 1) In vivo evaluation of selected PET tracers produced by Phase I and In vivo testing of lead compound for safety and pharmacokinetics Milestones include: labeling of CTT-54 with 1) an overall yield of 40%, high specific activity (gt500 Ci/mmole), stability of gt90% for up to 6 hours, 2) targeting of prostate cancerin mouse xenograft model and 3) a safety profile that will support filing an IND. The proposed work is expected to yield the following outcomes. First, a labeling chemistry that can be used in any one of the 277 PET centers in the United States. Secondly,a safety profile of the labeled lead compound that would support an investigation new drug application with the FDA. The high- affinity small-molecule targeting platform upon which our lead compound is based is unique compared to other targeting moleculesbecause it has demonstrated irreversible binding to the prostate tumor biomarker PSMA. These unique characteristics make this compound is a more attractive targeting platform for prostate tumor binding with enhanced translational potential. It is expectedthat the proposed work will result in optimized prostate cancer imaging agents, which is important because better detection agents are essential for assisting clinicians in staging prostate cancer, developing personalized therapy, and monitoring treatment. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The overall goal of this application is to develop a novel clinically relevant diagnostic for prostate cancer that capitalizes on the potency and specific affinity of small-molecule inhibitors to PSMA. The overall objectives of this application are to further the development our primary PSMA inhibitor, CTT-54 by optimizing the 18F-labeling chemistry, demonstrating PET imaging of prostate cancer in animal models systems, and initiate toxicology studies in support of clinicaltrials. The preliminary data presented demonstrates that a small molecule inhibitor of PSMA can target and image prostate cancer when coupled to a radionuclide tracer."
SBIR Phase I: A Nanostructured Superconductor for Magnetic Resonance Imaging,1045912,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,KavanaTech,1833 Seabreeze Street,,Newbury Park,CA,91320-6542,No,No,No,Muralidhar R. Rao,PhD,8054998235,m.rao@gte.net,Muralidhar R. Rao,,8054998235,m.rao@gte.net,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop thin-film high-temperature superconductors (HTS) with superior properties that do not degrade in high magnetic fields for applications as high-performance sensor coils in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The superconductor structure will be engineered at nanoscale with the controlled distribution of impurities that act as flux pinning sites that reduce the MRI radio frequencies (rf) loss at high fields. A series of HTS thin films with different layer parameters will be grown. The films will be characterized by rf measurements on resonator structures patterned on the films. The planned product is a high-performance HTS MRI sensor coil that operates in high magnetic fields with signal-to-noise ratio (S ) of 5 to 10 times higher than that of present HTS coils, and 15 to 30 times higher than that of copper coils. The broader/commercial impact of this project will be the potential to address the MRI market needs of shorter scan time and increased resolution as MRI systems migrate towards higher magnetic fields. This will lead to improved patient comforts, clinical diagnoses and drug discoveries. The current addressable market size for MRI sensor coils is about $88 million per year in the Unites States and $183 million per year worldwide."
Modified Nanoparticles for Lipophilic Toxin Sequestration,FA9550-11-C-0092,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,1,100000.00,"AuraSense, LLC",8045 Lamon Avenue,Suite 410,Skokie,IL,-,No,No,No,Percy V. Crocker,VP Commercial Development,(847) 467-2874,pcrocker@aurasense.com,Weston Daniel,Research Scientist,(847) 467-2874,wdaniel@aurasense.com,"ABSTRACT: Mycotoxins are a class of weaponizable toxic secondary metabolites of molds and fungi. No treatments exist for exposure to these lipophilic poisons. AuraSense proposes to use lipid and protein modified gold nanoparticles to develop constructs for the sequestration of toxic lipophilic molecules. Nanoparticles are ideal materials for development of such a system, as they are able to be finely tuned in terms of their size, molecular composition, surface charge, and interfacial properties. In addition, we have demonstrated in preliminary work that they are nontoxic, and have a proven ability to avidly bind lipophilic molecules. Due to the difficulty of working with mycotoxins, cholesterol will be used as a model system to demonstrate sequestration from cell membranes. BENEFIT: AuraSense""s nanoparticle constructs have great potential as effective agents for transporting lipophilic toxins, such as mycotoxins, safely out of the body. AuraSense nanoparticle technology has been developed in numerous proof-of-concept applications and has been the subject of consistent commercial interest to date. This platform stands to significantly advance defense alternatives in combating lipophilic toxins. While broadly applicable in a number of therapeutic areas, AuraSense""s nanoparticle platforms are highly relevant to the Biodefense market."
Cell Regulation with Polyvalent Nanoparticles,FA8650-11-M-6211,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"AuraSense, LLC",8045 Lamon Avenue,Suite 410,Skokie,IL,-,No,No,No,Percy V. Crocker,VP Commercial Development,(847) 467-2874,pcrocker@aurasense.com,David Giljohann,Research Scientist,(847) 467-2874,dgiljohann@aurasense.com,"ABSTRACT: Polyvalent nanoparticle constructs have unique properties that make them ideal for gene regulation applications, while overcoming many of the challenges which have prevented oligonucleotides from being developed into viable therapies. Specifically, AuraSense is developing constructs which are highly resistant to nuclease digestion, have high binding constants for intracellular targets, and, uniquely, have exhibited high entry into every cell type tested to date (over 50 cell types including primary cells, tissues and neurons). The AuraSense constructs thus represent a significant advance in gene pathway regulation technology while displaying the characteristics of an ideal gene therapy system. Building on our initial success, we are proposing to develop optimal constructs for application in the control of gene and protein expression. Objective 1 experiments will be designed to demonstrate and optimize: 1) Ability to deliver conjugate nanostructures into both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, 2) Ability to deliver oligonucleotides including siRNA, DNA and modified nucleic acid structures, and 3) Qualitative and quantitative assessment of cellular entry. Objective 2 will determine the 1) Functional gene regulatory effect in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, 2) Biological compatibility and toxicity, and 3) Comparison with commercially available lipid and polymer systems (e.g. Lipofectin and Cytofectin). BENEFIT: AuraSense""s nanoparticle constructs have great potential as broadly effective, non-toxic agents for cellular transfection of genetic material. AuraSense nanoparticle technology has been developed in numerous proof-of-concept applications and has been the subject of consistent commercial interest to date. This platform stands to significantly advance transfection as a tool for life science researchers and for increasing the safety of troops in the field. AuraSense""s nanoparticle platforms are highly relevant to two markets: Chemical Transfection (as used for research applications) and Biodefense."
SBIR Phase I: Liquid Crystal-based Next Generation e-paper Devices by Micro-engineered Surfaces,1046893,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149900.00,LXD,7630 First Place,,cleveland,OH,44146-6713,No,No,No,Chenhui Wang,PhD,4407868700,cwang@lxdinc.com,Chenhui Wang,,4407868700,cwang@lxdinc.com,"Project Abstract This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project proposes to develop low power consumption bistable liquid crystal display (LCD) with capability of color and video display based on micro-engineered surface alignment (MESA) technology, for application of e-book/e-paper and other low power display such as rewritable price tags and cell phones. The uniqueness of MESA-LCD is that it is a surface-induced bistable display thus power consumption is extremely low for displaying text or static picture, meanwhile, both the video display and color display can be easily achieved whenever it is necessary. Also as a MESA-LCD is compatible to the current mature LCD production process, it has a low cost unmatchable for other technologies. The key Phase-I objective is to demonstrate the switching voltage reduction and contrast Improvement, to enable the success of commercialization success in Phase-II. The phase-I objective will be achieved through research on optimization of photoalignment materials and processes, and fabrication of a phase-I concept-proving prototype. With success of this project, e-book with low power consumption, and capability of video display and color display will be enabled. Meanwhile, this research project improves the understanding of the interaction of the light and micro-structured surface materials. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to bring to market various low-power display products including e-book and e-paper with full function of color display and video display with application in education and entertainment, for people who are now living in Information Era. This project is mainly targeting a fast growing e-book/e-paper market which has been proven by the launch of the Kindle e-book products by Amazon. The proposed MESA technology can also be used for retail, advertisement, medical display and military application where power consumption is a concern, with potential products including solar powered rewritable price tags, cell phones and other hand-hold devices, and smart ID/credit/medical cards. Technology areas of this project cover liquid crystal/polymer materials, LCD process, and interaction of the light and micro-structured surface materials. Market sector of this project include education, entertainment, retail, advertisement, medical display and military."
"""Creating a Pennycress Bioenergy Business""",2011-02790,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,460000.00,"ARVENS TECHNOLOGY, INC.",801 W MAIN ST,,Peoria,IL,61606-1877,No,No,No,Sudhir Seth,Chief Executive Officer,650-776-5443,seth@arvenstech.com,Peter B. Johnsen,Chief Technology Officer,309-258-1500,peter@arvenstech.com,"The national demand for energy and need for economic development has been driving efforts to create a domestic biofuels industry. Significant investment by both the public and private sectors have resulted in progress but recent government rule making has set ambitious requirements for renewable fuel supplies that can not be met with existing technologies or feedstocks. This significant unmet market for biofuels created by Federal regulation is the business opportunity identified by ATI to be met by producing Field Pennycress as a non-food energy crop. Pennycress has seeds with 36% oil and is grown as a winter annual on unused land following the corn harvest and prior to the spring planting of soybeans. This means that farmers can continue to grow corn and soybeans in the traditional way but add our new crop in the winter allowing them to earn additional income. Approximately 40 million acres of land are available each year for Pennycress under this strategy with no impact to the food supply or critical wildlife habitats. When fully deployed, Pennycress could supply eight billion gallons of biofuels and generate $4 billion in new farm income. In addition, approximately 23,000 new non-farm jobs could be created in rural communities enhancing local economic development. Our Phase I research has confirmed that Pennycress can be grown commercially as an energy crop and the logistics of harvest, transportation and storage were proven. Our SBIR Phase II project is designed to enhance Pennycress profitability through higher yields, gain acceptance from the farmers while reducing risk and uncertainty so that the crop is adopted and production acres can grow. In addition, a complete Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) for Pennycress biofuel production will be undertaken. ATI and its research partners will conduct agronomic research to address planting strategies, fertilizer regimes to enhance yields and evaluate new genetic lines of Pennycress. We will assess the impact of growing Pennycress on soil nutrition as well as its impact on the following soybean crop. ATI will gather data necessary to support the LCA of Pennycress required for EPA and USDA rule making on advanced biofuels and conclusion of this project will allow ATI to deploy a Pennycress supply chain from the farm to the pump as an innovative bioenergy business. The ATI commercialization plan is to contract with farmers to produce Pennycress from seed provided by us, take delivery of the crop and then process the seed by crushing and sell the resulting oil and remaining high-energy presscake. Our five-year goal is to have 100,000 acres under cultivation. ATI expects to grow geographically to more than one million acres as the crop proves itself to farmers. With substantial revenues from our production business, we will ultimately build our own biofuel manufacturing facilities and function as an integrated bioenergy company."
SBIR Phase I: New Fullerene-based Electron Acceptor Materials for High Efficiency Polymer Solar Cells,1046857,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149984.00,Solarmer Energy Inc.,3445 Fletcher Avenue,,El Monte,CA,-,No,No,No,Yue Wu,PhD,6264568090,yuew@solarmer.com,Yue Wu,,6264568090,yuew@solarmer.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to demonstrate 10% energy conversion efficiency for Organic Photovoltaics (OPVs) through the design and synthesis of new acceptor materials. Polymer-based OPV technology is ideal for clean and affordable energy generation because of its low-cost and non-toxic processes. Currently, the best energy conversion efficiency of OPV is about 8%, which is much lower than their inorganic counterparts. Further development of both donor polymers and acceptors is required to continuously improve OPV efficiencies. Acceptor materials with high carrier mobility and appropriate energy levels are needed to achieve higher energy conversion efficiencies. In this project, new electron acceptor materials and environmentally-friendly solvents will be designed and synthesized. The optimization of device structure and polymer film morphology will be conducted. The broader/commercial impact of this project will be the potential to offer high- efficiency OPVs that are low-cost, flexible, and easily deployable. OPVs can be used in portable electronics, building integrated photovoltaics, smart fabrics, sensors and other applications. OPVs also have the potential to challenge the current battery technology as portable power source and limit the use of toxic materials used in batteries."
"Development of roll-roll processed, low-cost, and flexible organic solar cells",N00014-11-M-0014,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99920.00,Solarmer Energy Inc.,3445 Fletcher Avenue,,El Monte,CA,-,No,No,No,Woolas Hsieh,President,(626) 456-8089,woolash@solarmer.com,Vishal Shrotriya,Director of OPV Lifetime,(626) 456-8090,vishals@solarmer.com,"Solar cells based on organic materials, also called organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs), have attracted broad research interest due to their low-cost, flexibility and light weight. However, OPV technology remains in pre-commercial stage primarily due to the lack of manufacturing process. Despite a lot of improvement in efficiency, limited attention has been dedicated to develop production technologies for low-cost and large-scale manufacturing of OPVs. In addition, the lifetime and stability of OPV cells is still questionable. In this proposal, Solarmer Energy proposes a comprehensive research plan which will deal with the challenges of manufacturing OPVs at low-cost and improving stability. The overall goal of this Phase I research project is to demonstrate the feasibility of roll-to-roll production of flexible OPV cells in ambient environment. It is also a goal of this project to demonstrate OPV cells that are stable under continuous incident light. At the end of the proposed project we will demonstrate a flexible, monolithically integrated OPV module with 10 series cells and total module area of 100 cm2, with module efficiency of 5% and T80 lifetime of at least 500 hours under continuous illumination of 1 Sun."
SBIR Phase I: Improvement of the biofuel fermentation process by the phage-mediated reduction of contaminating lactic acid bacteria,1112969,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,Phage Biocontrol,11142 Hopes Creek Rd,,College Station,TX,77836-4732,No,No,No,Elizabeth J. Summer,,9796946500,liz@ecolyse.com,Elizabeth J. Summer,,9796946500,liz@ecolyse.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be used to optimize biofuel production. The fermentation of biofuel ethanol is frequently disrupted by the growth of competing lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB compete for the feedstock, produce undesirable acids and inhibit fermentation. Currently, the LAB control method of choice is to apply antibiotics. Phage Biocontrol is proposing to develop an entirely new, alternative treatment for controlling LAB in the biofuel fermentation industry, based on formulations of bacteriolytic phage. Phage are natural, harmless, ubiquitous bacteriolytic agents that can be found in fermented foods. This project is focused on developing phage as a treatment to control LAB contamination during production of bio-fuels. The broader/commercial impacts of this research are to increase efficiency and profitability of biofuel production while eliminating the industrial use of antibiotics. The most significant commercial impact will be to decrease costly fermentation failure events caused by LAB, thus increasing both ethanol yields and profits. The broader societal impacts are arguably even more significant. First, phage treatment has the potential to increase biofuel yields, a necessary goal as fossil fuel levels diminish. Second, while there is a general agreement that widespread, non-medical antibiotic use should be curtailed, antibiotics are currently the most effective control measure available. Phage formulations have real potential to replace antibiotics for non-medical applications. Thus, the innovative application of phage to control LAB in the fuel ethanol fermentation industry will lead to positive economic and societal impacts."
Automatic Acquisition of Knowledge for Senior Care Planning,4R44AG038207-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1040402.00,MY HEALTH CARE,8520 Allison Pointe Blvd,Suite 230,INDIANAPOLIS,IN,46250-,No,No,No,Jerry Geesaman,,317-598-8921,jgeesaman@myhealthcaremanager.com,Eric C. Tinsley,,317-598-8921,etinsley@myhealthcaremanager.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Dramatic growth of the senior population in the U.S. is widely expected to challenge the capacity of this segment of the U.S. health system. Alternative strategies to support seniors living independently will be critical in meeting the short fall. My Health Care Manager (MHCM) has developed the Senior Care Navigation System (SCANSTM) to provide decision support to Geriatric Care Managers (GCMs), registered nurses and social workers, in the construction of consumer-side care plans for seniors and their caregivers. SCANSTM provides interventions and practical, real-world tools to extend the healthy and active years of life and assist families with critical decisions. Automatic acquisition of knowledge will help to augment MHCM's research staff in order to keep the SCANSTM knowledge base up to date for providing effective and efficient senior care plans. The overall goal for this Fast-Track SBIR research will be for MHCM in collaboration with the Indiana University's School of Informatics to develop an automated knowledge acquisition system that will acquire knowledge from health literature pertinent to senior care. This knowledge in the form of best practices will be used as part of the SCANSTM decision support system. Theautomatic acquisition of knowledge will greatly increase the overall productivity of the SCANS Research Team. The improvements in quality, timeliness, breadth, depth, and volume of research will be a marketable feature of the SCANSTM product. During PhaseI, MHCM will validate the feasibility of automatically acquiring knowledge in literature for senior care planning. MHCM will develop knowledge extraction methodologies for geriatric care in Phase I and will implement 3 of 40 MHCM defined care categories. Phase II will expand on the algorithm(s) developed during Phase I to include an additional 30-37 care categories. MCHM will also develop geriatric care intervention discovery algorithms to be used in finding, updating, and evaluating new knowledge to be included in the SCANSTM knowledgebase. MHCM will verify and validate the feasibility of the knowledge acquisition methods by comparing the current manual research process with an automated acquisition process using literature. MHCM will then augment the knowledge discovered through text mining with an existing Bayesian Reasoning Network model to make the SCANS TM an efficient decision support system for geriatric care. With the completion of Phases I and II, commercialization of the knowledge acquisition system for SCANSTM can then proceed in Phase III of the project. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The goal of this Fast-Track research application is to improve the quality, depth and breadth of research reference material held in the Senior Care Navigation System, SCANS, knowledgebase used by our Geriatric Care Managers. The knowledgebase helps our GCM's to prepare comprehensive care plans for elders and their care givers covering 40 care categories. The intent is to expand the knowledge of and coordinate the services available to seniors and their families for improving their quality of life and for extending independent living."
Compostable Packaging from Agricultural Residues,2011-02299,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,456795.00,WORLD CENTRIC,2121 STAUNTON CT,,Palo Alto,CA,94306-1439,No,No,No,Aseem Das,CEO,(650) 391-2243,aseem@worldcenric.org,Shan Jin,,(510) 559-6105,shan@worldcentric.org,"$14.8 billion of foodservice disposables and packaging (plates, utensils, take out containers, meat trays, bowls etc.) are purchased each year in USA (Freedonia 2009). They are mostly made from Styrofoam/plastics and cause pollution and toxicity in production, usage and disposal. Cities and consumers are looking to increase landfill diversion rates and reduce pollution. Compostable products are starting to replace plastic products, but are still a very small part of the overall foodservice market. They are much more expensive and cost is given as the main reason for non-adoption of these products. Our goal is to produce a composite material at a price point, which will make it economically viable to manufacture domestically and be price competitive with plastics/Styrofoam products. The objective is to use very low cost agricultural resides in high proportions in combination with biodegradable polymers to get to the desired price point. Other benefits including creating value to farmers for their agriculture residues, reducing landfill waste, reducing imports, manufacturing domestically, creating jobs and using the technology for other verticals like building materials, consumer products etc."
SBIR Phase II: Commutational Ramp Load Disk Drive Actuator,1058569,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,444880.00,BLW,Meridian Technology Center,1414 S. Sangre Rd. Ste 205,Stillwater,OK,74074-0000,No,No,No,Matthew B. Green,MBA,4054101326,gencomm@bluewatertek.com,Matthew B. Green,,4054101326,gencomm@bluewatertek.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will design, build, test, and validate a fully operational prototype disk drive incorporating a commutational ramp load actuator (CRLA). The CRLA is a unique and transformative actuator for disk drives that provides significant improvements over existing actuator technology by increasing performance and reducing cost. The research objectives consist of a systematic distributed parameter design for the CRLA components, quantification of intrinsic parameters and performance characteristics, design and synthesis of a robust trajectory and control algorithm to fulfill the ramp load/unload requirements, and verification of repeatability and reliability of the ramp load/unload process. The CRLA design requires travel through a magnetic transition zone which presents an input singularity at a location on the ramp within the actuator sweep angle resulting from a zero torque factor. To promote travel on the ramp and through the region near the input singularity point on the ramp, a robust closed-loop control algorithm will be developed that will provide failsafe ramp load/unload operation through the transition zone. It is anticipated that the research will lead to a technically sound and robust CRLA prototype actuator which will provide significant performance improvements and cost savings. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is immediate and long-term. The immediate commercial potential is the specific application of the technology to the current 550 million units per year disk drive market for computers, servers, data backup systems, communication technologies, and many consumer products such as digital video recorders. The CRLA technology is expected to provide cost savings of $0.17 to $0.47 on magnet, coil, and latch materials for each disk drive. Additional cost savings are realized through a reduction in product liability, warranty, and return costs. This technology will provide a direct benefit to society via manufacture of a consumer product that is of a lower cost and higher performance. This innovation will enhance scientific and technological understanding of devices that require ?control through singular regions,? with potential application in diesel engines and various military defense and security technologies. Additional broader impacts include: (a) realistic engineering training for students; (b) improving local economy by creating manufacturing jobs; (c) involvement of undergraduate students and preparation of project modules to enhance undergraduate curriculum; (d) collaboration with practicing engineers; and (e) immediate transfer of technology to disk drive industry."
SBIR Phase II: Wireless Weigh-in-Motion,1057566,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,500000.00,"Sensys Networks, Inc.",1608 Fourth Street,Suite 200,Berkeley,CA,94710-1749,No,No,No,Pravin Varaiya,PhD,5105484620,pvaraiya@sensysnetworks.com,Pravin Varaiya,,5105484620,pvaraiya@sensysnetworks.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a fully functional prototype of an accelerometer-based wireless Weigh In Motion (WIM) station. The WIM system will comprise an array of battery-powered 3? cubes, embedded in the pavement, each consisting of an accelerometer, a microprocessor for local signal processing, and a radio that sends the processed measurements to an Access Point (AP) on the side of the road. The AP estimates the pavement load from each axle of a truck at freeway speeds and the truck?s class, and transmits these estimates to the traffic management center. The cubes take up minimal space and are installed within minutes, so WIM systems can be deployed anywhere at a fraction of the cost of traditional WIM stations. Phase I research demonstrated the technical feasibility and commercial potential of the WIM. The technical objectives of Phase II concern the WIM packaging and installation; calibration: sensitivity to weight, speed and temperature (especially for asphalt pavements); signal compression and source coding; channel coding; wide area data backhaul; overall system design; manufacturing prototype samples; and extensive testing. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to dramatically enhance the regulation of truck weights and provide data to greatly improve the maintenance of the US road and bridge infrastructure by drastically reducing the costs of WIM stations. Current WIM stations have limited deployment as they are costly to install requiring shutting the road for days and needing expensive maintenance and re-calibration. The new WIM stations could be widely deployed in additional locations on arterial streets and near ports to monitor truck traffic and be a component in a truck weight-based enforcement and toll system. These WIM stations could also meet similar objectives in overseas markets creating employment for US residents with diverse skills in the design, manufacturing, sales, and installation."
TAS::75 0849::TAS SBIR TOPIC 277 - NOVEL CTC-BASED TEST FOR LUNG CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE,N43CO110109,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,195030.00,"CYNVENIO BIOSYSTEMS, INC.",2260 Townsgate Road,,WESTLAKE VILLAGE,CA,91361-2437,No,No,No,Paul Dempsey,,805-777-0017,PDEMPSEY@CYNVENIO.COM,Paul Dempsey,,805-777-0017,PDEMPSEY@CYNVENIO.COM,"The evolving understanding of cancer indicates every tumor has distinct characteristics driven by the molecular pathology of the disease. Predicted by this heterogeneity, targeted therapeutic agents are much more successful than a one size fits all approach. Currently, there are no tools to analyze resistance in solid tissue tumor cells other than biopsy. This limitation excludes test for molecular markers that emerge during treatment. The goal of this project is to develop and characterize a CTC based molecular drug resistance test and demonstrate application in clinical samples. 15-20% of non-small cell lung cancers are driven by activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a mutation that can be very effectively treated with EGFRinhibitors such as gefitinib or erlotinib. Resistance to these drugs arises universally; caused half of the time by a T790M mutation. Currently, resistance is determined medically by demonstrating tumor progression. As an alternative approach, extractingthe small numbers of circulating tumor cells (CTC) released into the bloodstream for detection of the emergence of the T790M mutation offers a strategy for genotyping patient-specific tumor cells in real time. This will produce a fundamentally enabling technology for predictive cancer tests in personalized medicine."
"TAS::75 0849::TAS TOPIC 293, A LIQUID BIOPSY TO ASSESS MUTATION IN LUNG CANCER",N43CO110115,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,182141.00,"CYNVENIO BIOSYSTEMS, INC.",2260 Townsgate Road,,WESTLAKE VILLAGE,CA,91361-2437,No,No,No,Paul Dempsey,,805-777-0017,PDEMPSEY@CYNVENIO.COM,Paul Dempsey,,805-777-0017,PDEMPSEY@CYNVENIO.COM,"Improvement of treatment outcomes for patients with solid tissue tumors depends on the drug s ability to target the genetic mutations responsible for tumor growth. Currently, mutational analysis requires an invasive tissue biopsy, which is clinically impractical to perform repeatedly. Alternatively, extracting Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) - cancer cells released into the bloodstream by the primary tumor - for molecular analysis offers an attractive strategy for genotyping patient-specific tumors and mutations. The goal of this project is to demonstrate and validate a procedure that marries high efficiency microfluidic capture with integrated DNA amplification to allow direct detection of the driver mutations in a lung cancer model. The reproducibility and accuracy of the mutation profiling procedure will be validated in spiked samples. Furthermore, the procedure will be tested to elaborate the surface markers used to capture CTC in spiked and clinical samples. In this way, the flexibility of the procedure will also be assessed. This will produce a fundamentally enabling technology for predictive cancer tests in personalized medicine with application in many solid tumor models."
Novel approach to NOx reduction in biogas engine exhaust from anaerobic digestion facilities at dairy farms.,2011-02367,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,460000.00,"BIOGAS & ELECTRIC, LLC",4111 CALAVO DR,,La Mesa,CA,91941-7051,No,No,No,Seth Burns,Managing Member,(619) 251-3849,seth@biogasandelectric.com,Michael Matelich,Chief Scientific Officer,(858) 750-8332,mike@biogasandelectric.com,"Biogas & Electric LLC proposes a novel low cost approach to NOx and SO2 removal through a combination of extended absorption and selective non-catalytic reduction. If efficacy in the proposed NOx removal process can be shown, the new method will be adopted by all proposed manure based anaerobic digestion projects in California, and shortly thereafter adopted by many other manure based anaerobic digestion projects across the globe."
Development of Native Kelp Culture System Technologies to Support Sea Vegetable Aquaculture in New England Coastal Waters,WC133R-10-CN-0221,DOC,NOAA,SBIR,2011,2,300000.00,"Ocean Approved, LLC",188 Presumpscot Street,,Portland,ME,04103,No,No,No,Tollef Olsen,CEO,(207) 671-7946,tolson@oceanapproved.com,Paul Dobbins,President,(207) 409-6485,pdobbins@oceanapproved.com,"This Phase II research expands Phase I research on Saccharina latissima and is to design and develop “seed” nursery methodologies for the development of commercial-scale production of juvenile kelp plants including Alaria esculenta and Laminaria digitata.
The project objectives include:
1.Isolate and maintain cultures of New England species of Alaria esculenta and laminaria digitata to be used as “seed stock” for the production of juvenile plants.
2.Identify and develop the highest yield strains of Saccharina latissima, Alaria esculenta and Laminaria digitata.
3.Develop efficient, cost effective, and scalable production, transport, grow-out, and harvest methodologies with sufficient simplicity to accommodate participation of a medium skilled workforce.
4.Create a detailed protocol for culture maintenance and production of young kelp plants to facilitate transfer of the technology to other commercial entities and educational institutions.
This project is a collaborative effort between Ocean Approved, the University of Connecticut, and the Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science Technology Education Center, and supports the development of a new aquaculture sector, allowing the United States to participate in the US$7 billion dollar cultivated sea vegetable market."
Low Cost Metal Hydride Hydrogen Storage System for Forklift Applications,DE-FG02-10ER85900,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,993322.00,"Hawaii Hydrogen Carriers, LLC",531 Cooke Street,,Honolulu,HI,96813-5235,No,No,No,Craig Jensen,Dr.,8082265166,thecraig22@hotmail.com,Cranston Polson,Mr.,8085421899,cranston@hihydrogen.com,"There is worldwide interest in the commercialization of energy efficient, environmentally friendly, hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles and devices. One of the key challenges in transitioning fuel cell technology to the marketplace is the development of suitable onboard hydrogen storage solutions. Metal Hydride Solid-State (MHSS) based hydrogen fuel solutions provide favorable storage alternatives for certain applications such as zero-emission forklifts. Currently, approximately 66,000 Battery-Powered (BP) forklifts are purchased each year in the U.S. BP forklifts have some inherent drawbacks that could be eliminated by incorporating an alternative energy source in the form of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) coupled with an MHSS fuel system. Hydrogen powered PEMFC forklifts are becoming more widespread, due to a vastly improved overall value proposition, with market sales doubling every two years. The advantages of an MHSS PEMFC forklift over a BP forklift include: 1) Significantly reduced charging/fueling time, 2) Constant Power (not decreasing at low charge), 3) Longer life span, 4) Added ballast (i.e., heavy weight of MHSS fuel tank is a plus for this application), and 5) Supports use of renewable energy (i.e., electrolysis via wind or solar power). Advantages of an MHSS PEMFC forklift over the current High Pressure (HP) PEMFC forklift design include: 1) Reduced safety risks due to low pressure fuel storage, 2) Increased tank storage capacity offering longer durations between refills, 3) Lower cost due to the elimination of on-site HP refueling stations, 4) Value proposition supportive of very small fleets, and 5) Capability to fill directly from an electrolyzer or other low-pressure source. HHC/SES will address the known problem via utilizing our teams vast metal hydride hydrogen storage experience, combined with proven systems engineering tools and manufacturing techniques, to produce a cost effect product that greatly exceeds present industry offerings and customer expectations. Evaluated cost and technical feasibility of MHSS fuel system design integrating with a PEMFC manufactured system. Successfully demonstrated: 1) MHSS storage capacity is greater than for HP fuel systems, 2) Specific energy and energy density meets PEMFC forklift requirements, 3) Ambient temperature start-up, 4) Hydrogen delivery rate is supportive of PEMFC, 5) Refueling can be performed without an off-board cooling system, and 6) Manufacturing design now offers cost competitive solution Validate Phase I design/modeling/testing and produce a full scale MHSS system supportive of PEMFC forklift manufacture. A retrofit kit for existing PEMFC forklifts will also be designed. The developed MHSS system will be formally tested and certified to meet all appropriate codes and standards. The market ready prototype will be integrated into a fully operational forklift for proof of functionality within standard operating conditions. Our solution will cause the wide spread replacement of BP low-speed materials handling vehicles (an estimated $45B/year global market) with hydrogen powered PEMFC systems. Associated benefits are as listed in item 5 above."
Self Cleaning Process Control Sensor for Thin Film Solar Cell Manufcaturing,DE-FG02-10ER85893,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,500000.00,"Colnatec, Llc",1230 E. Baseline Road,Suite 103-315,Mesa,AZ,85204-6706,Yes,No,No,Wendy Jameson,Mrs.,4805072001,wendy@colnatec.com,Scott Grimshaw,Mr.,8642396608,scott@colnatec.com,"Thin film solar cells are one of the most promising and cost effective means of generating electricity from sunlight. However, their manufacture requires the use of precision film thickness process control sensors in order to produce high efficiency and economically viable cells. Current film thickness sensors are not reliable enough to meet these demands, failing after continuous use in a matter of hours as a result of high heat and excessive layer build-up. We will develop a state of the art sensor that addresses these shortcomings. We propose replacing the current water-cooled quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) based process control sensors with a new class of high temperature microbalances made from doubly rotated quartz, gallium orthophosphate or langasite. These sensors can be constructed to clean themselves after repeated use by heating to temperatures in the range of 500- 1300C. In addition they offer more stable performance under normal process conditions due to their improved resistance to film stress and radiation induced noise. In our Phase I investigation we demonstrated a 500C sensor that is stable and that can regenerate itself after a thin film deposition. For a CIGS thin film process, we successfully removed selenium films completely off the crystal. With higher temperature capability, indium, copper and gallium films can be as well. In Phase II we will improve this capability to 1000 C, leading to the removal of nearly all commercially deposited thin films in solar cell manufacture. Essentially, an unlimited lifetime sensor is the end result. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The successful construction of a self cleaning and heated microbalance sensor will have applications far beyond thin film solar cell production. This includes furnace processing, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD) and even low temperature thin film processing (PVD techniques such as thermal evaporation and sputtering) where the failure of the sensor during long processing runs can be a major problem. Many optical devices are made under conditions that fall into this latter category. A new class of organic thin film devices, including OLEDs (Organic Light Emitting Diodes) and organic thin film photovoltaic devices are well known to be difficult to monitor in vacuum processing lines. This new class of microbalance eliminates many of the failure modes. This sensor will be a revolutionary development in continuous vacuum coating technology. Roll coating systems have seen limited use of film thickness monitoring systems because of the short life of the sensors. Our innovation will remove that limitation completely."
A Community Focused Participatory Research Program to Evaluate COSolutions,2011-02610,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,460000.00,INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES,1600 ADAMS DR,,Stewartsville,NJ,08886-2646,No,No,No,Edward Connors,President,908-265-6282,edconnors@innovative-educator.com,Edward Connors,,908-265-6282,edconnors@innovative-educator.com,"Childhood obesity is a complex, multi-faceted problem which has been traced to many preventable risk factors, not the least of which includes; food access, outdoor ads, crime/safety, racial and income disparities, as well as increasing sedentary behaviors caused by excessive screen time. The economic impact of obesity related disease has proven quite significant. The direct cost of childhood obesity is estimated at $14.1 billion with a treatment cost for obesity related diseases in adults now exceeding $147 billion annually. In 2008 the cost of obesity related illness to Medicare and Medicaid was $19.7 billion and $8 billion respectively. This Phase II research project provides the opportunity to better utilize technology to respond to social challenges, eliminate health disparity, and increase health and educational outcomes for our nation's children. This project will lead to the emergence of a versatile and cost-effective means to overcome any one of a number of public health problems through a technology driven infrastructure that synthesizes community and program activities into one coherent collaborative partnership to promote increased health and educational outcomes for vulnerable populations."
Aina Mo Soil Amendment Project: Organic compound from biodiesel glycerin co-product to control apple snail (P. canaliculata) on wetland taro,2011-02361,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,460000.00,"PACIFIC BIODIESEL, INC.",40 HOBRON AVE,,Kahului,HI,96732-2106,No,No,No,M. E. O`Hara,Director of Business Development,808-965-1981,eohara@biodiesel.com,Penny Levin,,808-285-3947,pennysfh@hawaii.rr.com,"Apple snail, (Pomacea canaliculata), a highly invasive pest affecting wetland crops in 18 countries including the U.S., is listed as one of the 100 Worst Global Invaders. One study showed that due to its voracious appetite, present value damage from the snail could cost Philippine rice production as much as 2.3 billion dollars annually. In Hawai`i, the apple snail invasion has reduced taro harvests for the small and mid-sized farms that comprise the local taro industry by 18% to 25% annually. This project will research a unique control for apple snail on Hawai`i's wetland taro production using the unrefined glycerin co-product (UCP) from biodiesel production as a soil conditioner. The research will identify a uniform product, test the product on non-target species and conduct field trials on wetland taro to determine efficacy in controlling apple snail and impacts on soil and plant health. The end goal will be to develop a marketable product that provides environmentally safe control of apple snail on taro and enhances the efficiency and profitability of small taro farms. Locally manufacturing an agricultural amendment, Aina Mo, for use in Hawaiian taro production saves energy through import substitution. Developing value-added co-products from biodiesel refining will improve profitability for the renewable fuels industry. Sustaining and increasing wetland taro production will revitalize rural areas and preserve wetland habitat. Developing a natural organic compound that effectively controls this invasive pest will preserve water quality in streams and coastal waters and has potential applications for wetland rice production and preservation of wetlands globally."
Optimizing Marketing Strategy and Consumer Connection for a Corn-Based Compostable To-Go Tea Filter in Mass Foodservice,2011-02282,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,460000.00,"TEA SPOT, THE",1801 13TH ST STE 170,,Boulder,CO,80302-5387,No,No,No,Maria Uspenski,CEO,(303) 444-8324,maria@theteaspot.com,Jessica C. Burtenshaw,Director of Product Marketing and Develo,(303) 444-8324,jessica@theteaspot.com,"Foodservice sales of tea in the U.S. are currently increasing at about 8% annually (Sundale, 2010). Within this sector, there is an increasing demand for loose leaf teas over traditionally low-quality tea bags. The Tea Spot has developed a patent pending tea filter, trademarked Brewlux, for the preparation and delivery of loose tea to-go in the mass foodservice market. Phase I USDA-NIFA sponsored research enabled The Tea Spot to make the optimal material selection for manufacture of the Brewlux filters - a compostable, U.S. corn-based resin. With the Phase II SBIR grant, The Tea Spot will develop a marketing and distribution strategy that makes the compostable Brewlux tea filter accessible and widely distributed in mass foodservice. The primary goal of the research is to refine the marketing strategy by optimizing product messaging for both types of end-users, shop owners and consumers."
SBIR Phase I: Multi-use moisture resistant green composites,1113577,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149786.00,"E2E MATERIALS, INC.",239 CHERRY ST,,Ithaca,NY,14850-5024,No,No,No,Robert Rasmussen,,6072795232,bobr@e2ematerials.com,Robert Rasmussen,,6072795232,bobr@e2ematerials.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the use of ""green"" composite building materials as a replacement for conventional plastics and wood products. These green composites have the advantage of superior strength-to-weight ratios over pressed wood products while eliminating use of the carcinogen formaldehyde. They also offer comparable strength-to-weight ratios to petroleum-based advanced composites while having the advantages of being generated from sustainable resources and being biodegradable. However, one of the significant challenges with composites that use protein-based resins is poor moisture resistance. This project will investigate the use of accelerants to produce highly cross-linked soy-protein resins. The Phase I program will result in the development and characterization of several formulations of the composite material resin in combination with fibers. The resulting green composites will be characterized after varying levels of exposure to moisture to determine their suitability for a variety of commercial applications. The Phase I research will enable the production of samples for potential customers and partners based on their application specifications. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will involve a shift of many consumer products away from non-renewable, petroleum-based products to materials produced from annually-renewable agricultural materials, providing a cost-effective solution with higher performance. These composites have the potential to replace formaldehyde-containing pressed wood products and petroleum-based advanced composites in building applications such as residential cabinetry and office furniture. They also have the potential to be used in the automotive industry for auto trimming. These materials do not use hazardous chemicals and have greater strength-to-weight ratios than pressed wood products (even without the use of nano-clay and microfibrillated cellulose additives), enabling weight savings. This reduction in materials results in a cost savings while having the advantages of being biodegradable and generated from sustainable resources. Further, existing pressed-wood manufacturing and assembly facilities can be readily converted to the manufacture and use of these composite systems without major retooling, enabling companies to shift to eco-friendly products without job losses or worker displacement."
HERMES-Based X-ray Strip Detector,DE-FG02-10ER85875,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,1000000.00,"Sydor Instruments, LLC",291 Millstead Way,,Rochester,NY,14624-5101,No,No,No,Mark Katafiaz,Mr.,,mark@sydorinstruments.com,Yoram Fisher,Dr.,,mark@sydorinstruments.com,"The effectiveness of synchrotron radiation science is being hindered by the limited availability of advanced detectors. The capability to produce photon fluxes has outpaced the ability to detect and measure the resultant photons. This is due to the limited deployment of existing detectors as well as very limited development effort to provide new advanced capabilities. As synchrotron radiation experiments become more sophisticated, advanced detectors exhibiting high count rates, high energy resolutions, and high spatial resolutions over large areas will be necessary to leverage the capabilities of the beamlines and enable discovery. A novel one-dimensional microstrip detector prototyped by Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) has proven to be highly effective at acquiring data with the count rates, energy resolution and spatial resolution needed for complex x-ray diffraction studies. The objective of this SBIR is to take the current hand build, uncalibrated, and user unfriendly detector to a commercial sealed, robust and reliable instrument building upon the foundation of the current device. In addition, several advanced features will be implemented that will improve the utility of the detector and reduce the total cost of ownership. Phase I initiated the technology transfer from BNL and resulted in a design that will eliminate an external chiller and vacuum pump, will achieve the desired operating temperature and will not suffer from ice formation. The new commercial design also incorporates several feature improvements such as faster readout, mounting points to ease integration, and an internal deadtime calibration capability. Phase II will build a quantity of detectors incorporating the advancements studied during Phase I. This will qualify Sydors manufacturing capability and enable end-user evaluations to validate performance specifications. Several beamline scientists from two synchrotron facilities will participate in Phase II beta testing to evaluate the new prototypes in target market applications. In parallel, Sydor will qualify commercial suppliers that will be used in a pre-production prototype constructed at the conclusion of the Phase II program. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The commercial deployment of the of this x-ray microstrip detector will enable researchers to advance their discovery in the very near term by providing an instrument that significantly speeds up the data gathering process as compared to present techniques. By acquiring data simultaneously at many points, the quality and quantity of data will be improved 100-fold from the current state of the art equipment. These detectors as well as future large array detectors built upon this framework will benefit a wide range of applications ranging from structure-based drug design to environmental remediation of contamination sites to new discoveries in nanoscale material science."
SBIR Phase II: In Vitro 3D Tissue Model for Toxicity Screening and Drug Discovery,1127551,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,500000.00,n3D,7000 Fannin Street,suite 2140,Houston,TX,77030-3875,No,No,No,Glauco R. Souza,PhD,8324728128,gsouza@n3dbio.com,Glauco R. Souza,,8324728128,gsouza@n3dbio.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will use in vitro three-dimensional (3D) cell culturing enabled by the magnetic levitation method (MLM) as an improved tool for toxicity testing. This work will probe the effects of common agents on the lung, liver and kidney, three organs that play a central role in drug metabolism and are predisposed to toxic injury. 2D cell culture, commonly utilized for testing the cytotoxic effects of drugs, displays limited accuracy in predicting toxicity in vivo due to fundamental differences in the cellular microenvironment. While better representations of the 3D architecture of in vivo tissue are provided by animal models, they fail to accurately reflect whether or not drugs will cause cellular damage in humans as a result of biological differences between species. Our preliminary data shows that magnetic levitation maintains cells in culture in an arrangement that allows the cells to develop and communicate in a manner that is much closer to the in vivo environment than other in vitro systems. The broader impacts of this research are to improve assessment of drug toxicity and chemical hazards, reduce the use of animals, and advance the fields of in vitro toxicology testing and drug discovery. Commercial potential includes expansion of the device into high-throughput screening, generation of a prototype of a gas delivery system with capabilities to perform live cell microscopy, and development of a label-free viability assay for drug discovery and toxicity testing."
Development of a simple killed enterotoxigenic E. coli vaccine for weaned pigs,2011-00448,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,BROOKINGS BIOMEDICAL,4108 WILLOW LN,,Brookings,SD,57006-7020,No,No,No,David H. Francis,President,605-692-6912,francis@brookings.net,Mojun Zhao,Senior Scientist,478-320-0614,zhaomojun@gmail.com,"Enterotoxigenic Escherictia coli causes diarrhea (E. coli scours) in young weaned pigs. There currently are no licensed killed vaccines for the disease, and the available living vaccines do not express toxins which should be a major target of a vaccine. This lack of toxin antigens may affect how well the vaccines protect pigs. We have recently developed an experimental killed vaccine for pig strains of E. coli that completely protects the animals from K88+ E. coli. However, the product would be too cumbersome to mass manufacture and to expensive to use in commercial swine production. The purpose of this current project is to utilize the knowledge gained from developing the experimental vaccine to create a simpler and less expensive product that would have commercial value, and to test that product for safety, potency and effectiveness in protecting weaned pigs from experimental challenge with highly virulent K88+ enterotoxigenic E. coli."
A Biogas Heat Engine for Small to Mid-Sized Farms,2011-02363,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,460000.00,"QUANTALUX, LLC",1005 LINCOLN AVE,,Ann Arbor,MI,48104-3559,No,No,No,Joseph S. Tesar,President,734-646-7669,jtesar@quantalux.com,Joseph S. Tesar,President,734-646-7669,jtesar@quantalux.com,"Non-technical Summary: The profitability of small and mid-sized dairy farms is strongly affected by increases in feed costs and energy costs. Unfortunately, farm operators have limited control of these factors, especially in the long term. New technology is needed to allow farmers to manage energy costs on their farms. One excellent solution is to use existing organic farm waste material to create energy via anaerobic digestion. Dairy operations (as well as other feeding sites) create copious amount of manure each day. By collecting this waste into an anaerobic digester, valuable biogas can be created and used by the farmer for pasteurization or hot water generation. Other organic materials can be used as feedstocks to enhance biogas production. The Biogas Heat Engine from Quantalux is an energy solution that generates valuable biogas from agricultural waste. Biogas has a large fraction of methane, and with suitable cleaning of the gas, can be used as a drop-in replacement for fossil fuels such as propane and natural gas. Our system includes a novel method for stabilizing biogas production using a thermal energy storage (TES). Renewable thermal sources are coupled to the Heat Engine via thermal storage cache, allowing the system to produce biogas more consistently. In order to show the viability of this technology for smaller farming operations, Quantalux will prototype and demonstrate that a simplified, thermally stable anaerobic digester system, We will show that the smaller farmer can self-generate biogas for use on his/her farm (decreasing energy costs), and that same farmer can also earn additional revenue (from selling enhanced digestate.) We also will show enhanced biogas production via the use of thermally stabilized digestion vessels, and by the addition of different farm-based feedstocks to the base manure feedstock. The Biogas Heat Engine will be marketed directly to small to mid-sized dairy farmers who seek decreased costs and a diversified revenue source. Revenues come from avoided cost of energy, the sale of compost, or from tipping fees from co-digestion materials. The Biogas Heat Engine is a way for the small farmer their energy costs while improving the health management of their farm and of the surrounding ecosystem."
Practical Torrefaction of Forest Waste for Conversion into Clean Fuel for Coal-fired Power Plants,2011-02347,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,460000.00,"HM3 ENERGY, INC.",500 SE BUTLER RD,,Gresham,OR,97080-9410,No,No,No,Mary McSwain,Secretary,503-674-3223,mary@hm3e.com,Hiroshi Morihara,President,503-674-3222,hiroshi@hm3e.com,"Coal-fired electric power generating plants are under increasing pressure to reduce CO2 and other toxic emissions. However, using alternative fuels, such as solid biomass as a greenhouse gas neutral fuel, requires substantial plant modifications. In addition, burning biomass contributes to slagging and fouling of the plants' furnaces. Soil mixed in with the forest waste is the primary cause. HM3 Energy has developed an innovative process (trademarked ""TorrB"") to convert forest waste into fuel briquettes with low soil content. Unlike most pellets and briquettes produced from wood chips, these briquettes behave just like coal; i.e., they can be stored outdoors, are easily pulverized, and their heating value is similar to that of coal. The TorrB process uses torrefaction where the biomass is heated to a high temperature (200-300 degrees C) for a specified time duration in the absence of oxygen. The final product is a solid with a high energy value for use as combustion fuel in coal-fired power plants. This Phase II grant research will focus on developing commercial scale torrefaction equipment and process. HM3 Energy's TorrB torrefaction process and product have demonstrated clear viability as shown in the results of our NIFA-USDA-SBIR Phase I study using a small batch process. By taking the current proven torrefaction process and applying it to a scalable design which utilizes a continuously operating torrefaction system, we will be able to economically produce the large quantities of torrefied biomass required to operate coal-fired power plants. Our approach will be to develop, test and optimize the new torrefier equipment of our own design. When combined with the (waterless) contamination removal methodology developed in Phase I, we will then be ready to apply this knowledge to construction of a full commercial production facility. The potential impacts and benefits of large scale commercial use of torrefied biomass in place of coal are numerous. The forest waste feedstock is renewable and sustainable, and can be obtained from undesirable species (such as western Juniper) present in semiarid regions and through forest thinning and removal of accumulated forest debris - even bug-infested dying trees. By removing the undesired forest waste, the forest ecosystem will be less susceptible to insect and pathogens. There will also be a reduction in the potential for catastrophic forest fires. Overall, the nation's health and environment will be improved by a reduction in coal-fired power plant emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury and other toxic metals present in the coal and coal ash. In fact, America's supply of clean water is threatened by mercury pollution, much of which comes from coal-fired power plant emissions that get into water resources. Replacing coal, the greatest source of CO2, with carbon-neutral biomass fuel in the current installed base of coal-fired power plants could have the greatest impact on green house gases of any mitigation measure. Air quality, as well as the environmental health of water resources and ecosystems in forest, rangeland and farms, could be greatly enhanced."
SBIR Phase I: Low Cost Manufacturing of Pollution Control Substrates,1113652,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,Errcive,118 Ramsey Way,,Boalsburg,PA,16827-1904,No,No,No,Charles E. Ramberg,,6505750662,rambergce@errcive.com,Charles E. Ramberg,,6505750662,rambergce@errcive.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will investigate the use of novel manufacturing methods to fabricate porous ceramic substrates for reducing pollution from large diesel engines, and burners. Currently, these substrates are extruded, and are thus constrained in size, shape, and gas flow dynamics. As a result, extruded substrates require expensive catalysts, and do not easily scale to the largest, most polluting engines. This project will seek to develop a novel, environmentally benign, low cost manufacturing method to make large substrates. These substrates will have improved heat transfer and mass transfer properties, enabling the substrates to reach uncatalyzed operation temperatures quickly. The resulting exhaust mitigation systems will not rely on precious-metal catalysts, and thus be much lower cost than currently available products. This Phase I effort is directed toward testing, developing, and benchmarking a new manufacturing technology. These fabrication methods will leverage Errcive?s prior work on ultra-low cost raw materials to create an entirely new type of pollution mitigation product. The broader/commercial impacts of this research include: i) reducing air pollution, ii) developing advanced manufacturing technology, and iii) upcycling industrial waste into high value products. Criteria pollutants (e.g., particulate matter and NOx), are health hazards, cause premature melting in Boreal regions, and are strong climate forcing agents. Reducing the concentrations of criteria pollutants will result in a variety of positive outcomes, including improved air quality and overall population health, particularly near cities, rail yards, and ports. Additionally, recent studies have determined that PM and NOx may be among the top five global warming species. The atmospheric lifetime of PM (weeks) is much shorter than that of CO2 (decades). Thus, mitigating PM emissions may yield the fastest reduction in global warming. PM and NOx are emitted by virtually all of the world?s ~50 million diesel engines. Appreciably reducing overall emissions requires mitigating the world?s oldest, largest engines. However, the cost of currently available technology prohibits wide scale adoption. An economic exhaust mitigation system must be capable of cleaning these emissions streams at a cost that does not prevent its adoption. This project is directed toward creating a revolutionary system that combines high performance and low cost."
A Pelleted sericea lespedeza supplement for control of internal parasites on small farms,2011-02661,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,460000.00,SIMS BROTHERS INCORPORATED,3924 COUNTY RD 87,,Union Springs,AL,36089-6337,No,No,No,Cynthia S. Smithart,Secretary-Treasurer,334-738-2619,simsbrothers@yahoo.com,Thomas H. Sims,President,334-738-2619,simsbrothers@yahoo.com,"Internal parasites are the greatest health and production challenge for sheep and goats in southeastern states and others during warm, humid conditions (including Northeastern, Midwestern and irrigated pastures in Western US). Haemonchus contortus, or barber pole, worm thrives in warm, humid climates and is a voracious blood feeder that can cause anemia and death to the animal if left untreated. It is the most crucial health problem of small ruminants in this environment. Dewormer resistance has left many producers without any chemical control of worms, which was heavily relied on in the past, and some have gone out of business due to poor parasite control options. Published studies reported that consumption of sericea lespedeza, a condensed tannin rich forage, has offered control of parasites in sheep and goats. Results from the Phase I project indicated that a 75% sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellet was highly palatable and offered good control of barber pole worm. There was evidence that coccidiosis (a condition that causes diarrhea) was reduced in lambs and goat kids that consumed the pellets. Free range poultry suffer from Ascaridia galli, a round worm, which can not be easily prevented or controlled in outdoor poultry operations. Chickens will readily consume sericea lespedeza and the pelleted leaf meal could offer control of their gastrointestinal worms and gut pathogens. The objectives of this project are to optimize control of gastrointestinal worms of sheep and goats by supplementation with pelleted sericea lespedeza leaf meal, determine the effect of the pellets on coccidiosis, and determine the impact of the pellets on gastrointestinal worm infection of free range poultry. In addition, the impact of harvesting sericea lespedeza at different times during the summer and under various conditions on leaf meal quality will be determined. Results of the proposed approach may extend the use of 75% sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellets for control of coccidia in sheep and goats, control of gastrointestinal worms or gut pathogens in poultry, and aid in management recommendations on use of the pellets in a feeding program for sheep and goats. In addition, understanding how harvesting at different times throughout the growing season and under different management schemes will assist in processing the harvested sericea lespedeza for optimal quality and refine management recommendations for harvest by contract growers. There is a strong demand by small ruminant producers for the pellet to aid in the control of internal parasites and meeting the demand could be a challenge. Commercialization of sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellets for gastrointestinal worm control and as a nutrition supplement has the potential to increase sustainability and profitability of sheep and goat producers that have no effective chemical dewormers."
Tahiti: A Platform for Total Eclipse use in Remote Computing,DE-FG02-11ER90013,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,1,149999.00,"Paratools, Inc",2836 Kincaid Street,,Eugene,OR,97405-4156,No,No,No,Allen D. Malony,Dr.,541-913-8797,malony@paratools.com,Ralph C. Bording,Mr.,541-913-8797,chris@paratools.com,"Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) stand to improve and modernize the software development cycle for High Performance Computing (HPC). However, conventional IDEs are focused on relatively homogeneous architectures and software stacks. In many cases IDE based development is simply not an option for HPC developers. In order to open this productivity-enhancing resource to the body of HPC science and industry, a consistent IDE environment that can interact from a users local desktop remotely with the diversity of modern HPC systems must be productized. ParaTools, Inc. will create pre-packaged Eclipse IDE bundles tailored to specific HPC environments. It will offer custom tool integration and IDE workflow development support, allowing customers to move their HPC development processes to the Eclipse platform without significant overhead or the need to switch to new, IDE-specific tool-chains. This project will leverage and extend the Eclipse Parallel Tools Platform project to meet this goal. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Improved IDE-based remote development support will make the use of leading HPC tools and platforms easier and more productive. Already standard practice in many fields, the benefits of using an IDE will be made accessible to developers of HPC software in national laboratories and industry. This will equip the HPC developers with tools to access, develop, and deploy applications on remote Leadership Computing Facilities (LCF) effectively from their desktop environments using an IDE machines. Tahiti targets modern multicore technology and promotes efficient development of HPC software products"
An Approach for Parallelizing Legacy CFD Applications,W911W6-11-C-0034,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99996.00,"Paratools, Inc",2836 Kincaid Street,,Eugene,OR,97405-4156,No,No,No,Allen C. Malony,CEO,(541) 913-8797,malony@paratools.com,Ralph C. Bording,HPC Software Specialist,(541) 913-8797,chris@paratools.com,"The project will develop and evaluate a systematic methodology to evolve legacy CFD wake modeling tools for rotorcraft engineering from sequential to parallel execution on high-performance workstations. The work will focus on sparse-grid elliptic solvers found in packages such as HELIX-IA due to their computational intensity and sequential performance bottleneck. The Phase I approach will be to isolate where and how the solvers are implemented and used, create interfaces that allow solver modules to be more easily invoked, and replace the sequential modules with parallel versions from robust matrix and solver libraries. The approach is founded on an extensive and deep background of expertise, tools, and technologies we have developed in parallel software analysis, parallel performance evaluation, numerical software, and HPC environments. The multi-disciplinary team of experts assembled include the developers of the TAU Performance System and PETSc who bring significant experience working with complex parallel software and computational simulation methods involving integration of sophisticated solver components. Successful completion of our project will create a strategy for code substitution that works well with CFD methods for Eulerian wake analysis, and a robust toolkit that can be refined in Phase II efforts to improve automation, platform porting, and parallel performance."
Minimizing Fuel Assembly Distortion in LWRs to Prolong Life and Increase LWR Sustainability,DE-FG02-11ER90102,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,1,149683.00,"Ceramic Tubular Products, Llc",15815 Crabbs Branch Way,,Rockville,MD,20855-6636,No,No,No,Herbert Feinroth,Mr.,301-840-8415,hfeinroth@gamma-eng.com,Matthew W. Ales,Mr.,434-942-5398,males@novatechusa.com,"Topic 20c of DOEs SBIR solicitation seeks grant applications to develop technologies for the assessment and mitigation of materials degradation in Light Water Reactors in order to extend the service life including methods that can mitigate or predict irradiation and aging effects An important degradation phenomenon that limits the service life and energy production of Light Water Reactor (LWR) fuel is fuel assembly distortion. Specific manifestations include bowing of the overall assembly structure in Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) fuel assemblies and channel distortion in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) fuel assemblies. Such bowing and distortion can lead to core unloading and reloading difficulties, fuel assembly damage, or incomplete rod insertion in PWRs and premature channel replacement or fuel assembly damage in BWRs. These issues impede the core refueling process and increase outage times. They also have long-term negative consequences. A fuel assembly that is damaged during one outage may fail during subsequent reactor cycles, thereby releasing fission products to the reactor coolant. Also, since the distortion gets worse the higher the fuel burnup, solving this problem is an important prerequisite towards achieving higher fuel burnup, thus reducing the amount of spent fuel to be treated and/or disposed of by the DOE. It is known that the stiffness and creep properties of fuel rods and control rod guide tubes within PWR fuel assemblies plays a dominant role in determining the amount of distortion that occurs. Zircaloy 4, Zirlo and M-5 fuel rods and control rod guide tubes, now in use, are relatively flexible, and prone to creep under load. This SBIR project seeks to determine if replacing these existing metal tubes with an advanced ceramic material, which does not creep under load, and is stronger than the zirconium alloys, can mitigate or eliminate the distortion problem. Specifically, we will measure the key mechanical properties of our new silicon carbide (SiC) three layer tubular material (already partly developed via other DOE industry supported programs) and also modify and apply an array of unique analytical computer codes designed to predict the distortion of PWR fuels assemblies as a function of the material properties of the fuel rods and guide tubes. If the analyses proves that these new materials will indeed mitigate or eliminate the distortion prevalent with existing materials, we will propose a specific test program for Phase II involving scale model testing, and also examine similar solutions to Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs) which use channel boxes instead of control rod guide tubes, as the main structural backbone of the fuel assembly. Development and use of these innovative technologies would directly support DOEs LWR sustainability program goals.Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: This proposed research can be applied directly in the manufacture and operation of commercial Light Water Reactor fuel assemblies for the existing 104 U.S. plants and future Generation 3+ plants and Small Modular Reactors now being planned."
Silicon Carbide Clad Thoria Plutonia Fuel for Light Water Reactors,DE-FG02-10ER85826,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,999446.00,"Ceramic Tubular Products, Llc",15815 Crabbs Branch Way,,Rockville,MD,20855-6636,No,No,No,Herbert Feinroth,Mr.,3018408415,hfeinroth@gamma-eng.com,Greg Markham,Mr.,4342391979,gmarkham@novatechusa.com,"Statement of Problem: Light water reactor fuel used in current reactors uses slightly enriched uranium oxide (UO2) fuel pellets with zirconium alloy (zircaloy) clad. Zircaloy clad loses all of its tensile strength at temperatures of 500 oC, and balloons outward during the early phases of a loss of coolant accident, thereby blocking the flow of emergency coolant. Also, it reacts exothermically when exposed to emergency coolant after an accident. This behavior was a principal cause of the severe fuel damage during the TMI reactor accident and was the most likely cause of fuel damage and radioactivity release at Fukushima, Japan. Silicon Carbide (SiC) cladding, on the other hand, retains its strength to 1600 oC, would not balloon and block flow during an accident, and would not react exothermically with emergency coolant. Even though SiC cladding has been under development for over seven years, it still has several major technology development challenges that must be addressed before licensing and deployment. Examples of remaining challenges are development of a robust end joint to seal the fuel within the cladding, improving the composite structure for greater impact resistance, and creating new processes with the capability to produce 14 foot long clad tubes. And because the cladding is inelastic, the fuel will run hotter, requiring a change in fuel form such as annular UO2 fuel at higher enrichment, or use of a high thermal conductivity high melting temperature fuel such as thoria-plutonia. This work is intended to (1) demonstrate the superior behavior of SiC triplex cladding during severe accidents, and including a spent fuel pool loss of coolant situation, (2) to identify and develop creative solutions to the remaining technical challenges, and (3) to examine solutions to the higher fuel temperature issue such as use of thoria-plutonia fuel and higher enriched UO2. It is intended that the resulting SiC triplex clad product would be compatible with a variety of fuel forms that evolve based on ongoing industry and DOE fuel development programs. In Phase I we demonstrated three key characteristics of SiC fuel cladding. (1) unlike the zircaloy cladding used in current reactors throughout the world, the SiC does not react exothermically with hot water, or air, at temperatures of 1400 oC and higher; (2) it is chemically compatible with alternate fuel forms such as thoria based fuels that have higher thermal conductivity and melting temperatures than UO2; and (3) when coupled with a thoria-plutonia fuel form, it has the capability of very long fuel cycles (e.g. over 7 years), very high burnup (over 120 mwd/kg) and very high plutonium destruction rates (over 60% of initial Pu loading). Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Because of its robustness and durability during severe accidents such as at Fukushima, SiC triplex cladding has the potential to avoid core damage during severe accidents, and thus enable the continuation of safe nuclear operations in existing reactors throughout the world. When coupled with new fuel forms such as thoria-plutonia fuel, it can operate to higher burnups, thus reducing the amount of spent fuel and the burden on the US waste repository, and can also enable the disposition of plutonium from excess weapons disposition, and recycled spent fuel without the penalty of producing new plutonium, as in uranium based mixed oxide fuel."
TcdB Based Protein Delivery of iPSC Reprogramming Factors,1R43GM093530-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,324516.00,"Synaptic Research, Llc",1448 South Rolling Road,,Baltimore,MD,21227-3898,No,No,No,Yung N. Chang,,443-543-5890,yung.chang@synapticresearch.com,Yung N. Chang,,301-987-0480,yung.chang@synapticresearch.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) have tremendous potential for regenerative medicine in future. However, there are obstacles to overcome before the iPSC can be used therapeutically. One major hurdle is the tool used to generate iPSC from adult somatic cells. We believe that the delivery of reprogramming proteins directly rather than the genes that encode these proteins is the safest means for generating iPSC. We propose to engineer Clostridium difficile toxin TcdB as a cytosolic delivery vehicle for embryonic transactivators that can reprogram adult somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and/or tissue specific cells. C. difficile toxin TcdB, exhibits multiple modular domains that provide all the mechanisms that allow the toxin efficiently deliver its N-terminal enzymatic domain (GT domain) to cytosol. We will engineer TcdB as a universal protein delivery vehicle by replaceing the enzymatic domain with a protein cargo to provide therapeutic benefits.We will initially append a chimeric transacivator to the N-terminus of the toxin or replace the GT domain with the chimeric transactivator. Using a high-throughput reporter cell line system, we will first examine how effectively the engineered recombinantprotein can deliver a biologically active cargo. We will then test if the engineered TcdB can deliver biologically active reprogramming factors (Oct4 and Sox2) to another reporter cell line and assess their ability to differentiate mouse embryonic stem cells with the help of our collaborators. Finally, we will use the TcdB delivery vehicle to generate of iPSC from mouse embryonic fibroblasts after we demonstrate that we can deliver those reprogramming factors efficiently to the well-characterized reportercells. Other methods of delivering proteins, such as the TAT protein transduction domain, will be tested in parallel to compare the efficiency of our novel system to established techniques. We believe this TcdB-based protein delivery vehicle will be a valuable tool for generating iPSC for research purposes, drug development, and toxicology studies. We also anticipate the development of TcdB-based biologics for regenerative medicine. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This project will investigate the use of anew protein delivery vehicle to introduce reprogramming factors to adult skin cells in order to convert them to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). This approach relies on proteins rather than genes to create iPSC, which avoids the potential dangers ofgenetic modification. These iPSC have enormous potential to replace embryonic stem cells for regenerative medicine."
Enhanced Process for the Extraction and Purification of Oils from Microalgae Using CO2 as a Solute,DE-FG02-10ER85913,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,998542.00,"Synaptic Research, Llc",1448 South Rolling Road,,Baltimore,MD,21227-3898,No,No,No,George A. Oyler,Dr.,4102623971,george@synapticresearch.com,George A. Oyler,Dr.,4102623971,george@synapticresearch.com,"One of the principal technical and cost barriers to successful commercialization of algal biofuels as an alternative energy source is the inability to extract the useful oil components from the algae in an economical and environmentally sound fashion. Indeed, the DOE announcement for this proposal specifically notes topic areas (5d) regarding methods for extracting oils from microalgae as goal of research and development. The announcement further recognizes the critical barriers that impact cost and performance: oil extraction systems for wet algal biomass and further purification of neutral lipids. Current processing methods for algal oil require large investments in costly and energy intensive centrifuges and distillation equipment using environmentally unfriendly solvents such as hexane due to the difficulty in isolating oil components from residual biomass and water. Alternative strategies are urgently needed to purify the valuable oil components from algae that can be subsequently processed into useful biodiesel. The objective of this Phase I/Phase II project is to implement a novel chemical processing strategy that applies carbon dioxide as a solute to alter the physical properties of lipids including density, viscosity, and solubility such that algal oil is more readily separated from the remaining biomass and water. Our CO2 solute enhanced lipid isolation is fundamentally different from supercritical extraction, which uses CO2 as a solvent and requires much greater volumes of CO2 and high capital costs. During Phase I, we measured the effects of CO2 on the physical properties of oil, water, and algal biomass in a series of laboratory experiments. Significant CO2 solute dissolves primarily in oil as a single phase at elevated pressures to alter the density and viscosity of oil and facilitates the separation of oil from separate phases of algal biomass and water. Therefore, the aim of the proposed Phase II project is to translate this knowledge of physical properties of CO2 solute in oil into a complete chemical process for purifying oil from biomass and water at laboratory scale. During year 1, optimal process operating parameters will be specified for the specific unit operations in order to reduce the water content following algal growth, solubilize CO2 solute in oil, purify oil from biomass and water, then recycle the CO2 and water. The second year of the Phase II project will integrate these individual unit operations into a continuous process and to design an economical process for scale up in Phase III. The Phase III project, if approved, will implement a pilot project at 200-to 2,000-fold higher scales that demonstrates the commercial feasibility of CO2 solute based processing for oil purification from algal biomass and water. Commercial Applications & amp; Other Benefits: The commercial benefits will be a substantial reduction in processing costs for purifying oil from algal biomass. As processing the algal species represents the single highest capital cost component of algal biofuels, methodologies that reduce these costs will have a significant impact towards making algal biofuels including biodiesel and other products economically viable. Given the expanding number of algal growth companies in the US, the implementation of complementary technologies to process the algae to oil and residual biomass represents an equally important goal towards the development of a commercially viable renewal algal biofuels source to replace current fossil fuels."
"SBIR Phase II: Building a Flexible, Technology Adaptive Architecture to Support Processing of Content by Knowledge Workers",1127464,NSF,NSF,STTR,2011,2,500000.00,Red Lion,3604 Vale Station Rd,,Oakton,VA,22124-2258,No,No,No,Eric B. Koefoot,MBA,(703) 472-8337,ekoefoot@yahoo.com,Eric B. Koefoot,,(703) 472-8337,ekoefoot@yahoo.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Project addresses the gap between the capabilities of today's semantic analysis systems and the accuracy requirements of knowledge workers (analysts and researchers) in language-sensitive fields such as public relations, foreign affairs, and crisis management. Knowledge workers in many organizations monitor and analyze print and web coverage for content of interest. When the volume of search results is large, some filter, classify and score the results using products or systems based on semantic analysis technology utilizing extensive libraries of words, patterns, and context-specific algorithms. However, users complain that these systems fall short of desired accuracy, missing rhetorical devices such as irony, sarcasm, metaphors, double entendre, and improperly interpreting connections between sentiment and topics. Users with high thresholds for accuracy thus turn to manual processes to either supplement or substitute for technology. Building upon Phase I work, the company will create and integrate a larger set of content processing modules and enhance a pluggable architecture to support quick insertion and testing of new modules in the content processing ""pipeline."" Once commercialized, the system will enable more rapid adoption of technology by knowledge workers. In fields with high accuracy requirements, the need for human judgment has constrained technology use to discrete areas like search, while in subsequent processing steps, analysts must manually capture, classify, score, analyze, and report on the output. Feedback to date suggests the product can substantially enhance the productivity and effectiveness of professionals in these fields and that it addresses a number of frustrating gaps in the marketplace."
Controlled Release of Topical Nitric Oxide for Treating Cutaneous Injuries,W81XWH-11-C-0031,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,70000.00,Zeomedix,26 Ashlawn Circle,,Malvern,PA,-,No,No,No,John C. Aybar,CEO,(610) 517-7818,aybarc@gmail.com,John C. Aybar,CEO,(610) 517-7818,aybarc@gmail.com,"In this proposal Zeomedix proposes to develop a dressing for acute trauma wounds based on its alginate/zeolite encapsulating nitric oxide (NO) technology. Nitric oxide has been shown to enhance the wound healing process as well as act as a powerful antibacterial agent. However, delivery of nitric oxide to a wound area is extremely challenging because NO is a gas. Zeomedix""s approach is to use zeolites that bind NO molecules when exposed to a stream of gaseous NO. When NO-loaded zeolites come in contact with water (or wound fluid), NO is released into the wound area. The aims of this project are to (1) develop a wound dressing that achieve a rapid initial burst of NO for antimicrobial effect followed by a slow extended release of NO for up to 24 hours to accelerate wound closure; (2) demonstrate the stability of a NO-zeolite based wound dressing over a period of up to 4 months; and (3) to demonstrate the antimicrobial effectiveness of a NO-zeolite based wound dressing."
SBIR Phase II: Plug and Play Characters for 3D Virtual Environments,1127499,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,500000.00,Animeeple,146 Montelena Ct.,,Mountain View,CA,94040-1088,No,No,No,Okan Arikan,PhD,5107301212,okarikan@gmail.com,Okan Arikan,,5107301212,okarikan@gmail.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will complete the development of reusable, self-encapsulated animated characters for use in 3D virtual environments. 3D characters are difficult to develop because of the inflexibility of current motion representations. Presently animations are compiled into characters using a static data structure. This makes the addition of new animations an off-line, time-consuming process. Using extensive motion annotation, our technology allows applications to link together animations at run-time. The end-product objective is a network of 3D mobile applications that run on multitouch-enabled devices like smart phones. The technology enables 1) transfer of characters within a growing network of applications (i.e., 'plug and play' characters), 2) user selection of animations to use in each application, and 3) character control through a novel multitouch-based interface. Intellectual merits involve creation of a character authoring and control interface, and analysis of alternative, flexible representations of character animation at the semantic level. This project will have broader impact in three areas. First, multitouch is a new interactive paradigm that will become ubiquitous through the proliferation of smart phones and tablets. This project will investigate multitouch schemes for intuitive control of complex, articulated models such as 3D humanoid figures. Second, this project will advance our understanding of semantic categories for human motion. Such labels are important for motion synthesis and motion recognition. Third, this project will develop methods for building virtual environments incrementally. Virtual environments are used widely in entertainment, training simulations, virtual worlds, and other 3D applications. The company will develop technology for adding new assets in a scalable manner."
Backpack SEM,NNX11CH24P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99858.00,DLA INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION,6060 Guadalupe Mines Court,,San Jose,Ca,-,No,No,No,David Adler,President,4082307164,dave@dlainstruments.com,David Adler,Principal Investigator,4082307164,dave@dlainstruments.com,"The JPL web page devoted to looking for life on Mars has two images. The first is an image of a hydrothermal pool at Yellowstone: the kind of place life might begin. The second is a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the Allen Hills 84001 meteorite. This SEM picture is famous for capturing our imaginations when, in 1996, it was thought to show the first pictures of extraterrestrial life. Whether these SEM images represent Martian life forms or something else, they stirred intense scientific research and vigorous debate within the astrobiology community, and increased public interest in the search for life on Mars. When extraterrestrial life is conclusively discovered, it will most likely be shown to the world using an image from an electron microscope.Why have no electron microscopes flown on planetary missions? Because existing SEM's are too large, heavy and fragile to withstand spaceflight. The key to reducing the size and weight of a SEM lies in eliminating the high-vacuum pumping system. In the SEM, every time a new sample is introduced the system must be re-evacuated. The entire pumping system must travel with the SEM. This pumping system is heavy, fragile and consumes a lot of power. It is because of the pumping system that no portable SEM exists, much less one that could travel to Mars.
In this proposal, we will eliminate theneed for a high-vacuum system in a SEM. This is accomplished by developing a new electron source that can operate in relatively poor vacuum conditions. By eliminating the largest, most complex and heavy part of the SEM, this project will develop a truly portable SEM: the Backpack SEM."
SBIR Phase II: Improving the Adhesion of Nanocarystalline Diamond Films to Tungsten Carbide Micro End Mills,1127516,NSF,NSF,STTR,2011,2,500000.00,NCD Technologies,137 E. Wilson St.,Unit #1313,Madison,WI,53703-4082,No,No,No,Patrick J. Heaney,PhD,(920) 915-4900,trackingfast@hotmail.com,Patrick J. Heaney,,(920) 915-4900,trackingfast@hotmail.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to develop a novel, commercially-viable, hybrid system that improves the adhesion of nanocrsytalline diamond (NCD) coatings to tungsten carbide (WC) cutting tools. A new hybrid system will be assembled, tested, and optimized. Research will be conducted to scale up the process to reach the capability of coating more than 3,000 cutting tools at one time. Further research will be conducted through laboratory and industrial machinability testing on these diamond-coated micro end mills. Testing variables include tool size, tool geometry, machining parameters (cutting speed, axial depth of cut, feedrate), workpiece material and environmental conditions. Industrial feedback will be used to ensure coating optimization to meet the needs of real users. The broader/commercial impacts of this project will be the potential to significantly improve the performance of micro tools. An important area of this industry is currently limited by poor micro end mill performance. Improved tooling performance will not only reduce the capital machine cost in this field, but also help realize the miniaturization of existing cutting-edge technology limited by current manufacturing capabilities. The most promising societal benefits of NCD tool coating will be realized in healthcare industry as diamond coatings are essential for the development of next generation biosensors and biomedical devices. This will significantly improve the quality and substantially reduce costs associated with biological sample testing, reducing the financial burden of healthcare expenses on individuals and the country."
SBIR Phase II: Commercialization and Scale Up of Ultra Low Fouling and Functionalizable Surface Coatings Based on Zwitterionic Polycarboxybetaine,1127475,NSF,NSF,STTR,2011,2,441415.00,Zwitter Tech,616 NE Northlake PL Rm 620B,,Seattle,WA,-,No,No,No,Yuting E. Li,DPhil,(206) 616-7546,yutingli@zwittertech.com,Yuting E. Li,,(206) 616-7546,yutingli@zwittertech.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project aims to demonstrate the extraordinary performance of zwitterionic technology in protein interaction analysis. Zwitterionic polycarboxybetaine (pCB) is not only highly resistant to nonspecific protein adsorption, but also has abundant functional groups for the convenient and effective immobilization of biomolecules via conventional chemistry. This dual-functional property distinguishes pCB from other existing low-fouling materials, and enables diagnostics or molecular recognition in complex media. In this project, high-quality zwitterionic materials and coatings will be scaled up with low-cost and simple production process. The expected outcome is that one can immobilize molecular recognition elements directly onto a non-fouling background for a wide range of applications. The broader/commercial impacts of this project will be the potential to offer an effective approach in protection of surfaces from unwanted interactions in complex media for biomedical and engineering applications. Zwitterionic technology has superior advantages of low cost, stability, effectiveness and additional functionalities. For protein interaction analysis and medical diagnostics, this technology will improve the sensitivity and specificity of a biosensor, and enable the detection of analytes in undiluted human blood plasma and serum."
Modular Undersea Compressed Air Energy Storage (UCAES) System,DE-FG02-10ER85825,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,396868.00,Brayton Energy,75B Lafayette Road,,Hampton,NH,03842-2624,No,No,No,John Karp,Mr.,,karp@braytonenergy.com,James Kesseli,Mr.,,kesseli@braytonenergy.com,"One of the foremost issues confronting our nation is that of energy security. Lessening our dependence on foreign fossil fuels necessitates progress and growth in the renewable energy sector. However, widespread adoption of clean energy currently faces the challenge of power consistency a dilemma rooted in the problem of storage. This need for reliable and efficient energy conversion and storage is fundamental to coping with inconsistent power sources such as wind and solar, as well as improving the management of other base-load resources. Research into large-scale power storage options led to the proposed concept of an Undersea Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) system; designed to work in concert with an advanced modular turbo-generation system. Compressed air storage in undersea membranes has been shown to be far more economical than above ground pressure vessels. Preliminary materials research, design work, site survey, transport pipe implementation strategy, and a cost analysis were conducted during Phase I. This led to a complete financial analysis of a 16MW (128 MWH) pilot plant. Phase II proceeds with prototype development, testing, refinements in system design, and planning for implementation and deployment, segueing into a pilot plant operation in Phase III. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: If commercialized, this energy storage system could work in concert with solar, wave, wind, and biomass energy systems to enhance their reliability. A prototype in Hawaii would reduce the States importation of oil, thereby lowering energy costs and improving air quality for its citizens."
GISMo: A Modeling Software Tool for Predictive and Real-Time Analysis of GISAS Data,DE-FG02-11ER90211,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,"Jema Science, Inc",1530 Grand Ave,,Piedmont,CA,94611-4330,No,Yes,No,Xiaodong Ding,Dr.,510-333-1626,ding@jemainc.com,Niansheng Qi,Dr.,510-333-1626,qi@jemainc.com,"The current bottleneck for materials characterization using grazing incidence x-ray/neutron scattering (GISAS) lies in the difficulty of modeling and analysis due to the coupling of complicated dynamical and kinematic effects. Modern x-ray and neutron sources will offer the capability of high-speed, high-throughput data generation, which inevitably demands powerful yet user-friendly modeling and analysis software for in-situ data analysis. Through the development of a commercial software suite, GISMo (Grazing Incidence Scattering Modeler), we will provide a solution that bridges user-friendly, computer assisted modeling with highly efficient computational tools for scattering theory in a dynamic fashion.Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The initial product will be clearly geared towards GISAS communities around the world, but the expandability of our software suite will allow us to easily include other scientific areas. The basic concept of combining user-friendly modeling tools with an expert program that handles the fundamental physical principles will enable GISMo to be further developed into a General Input Scientific Modeler for accommodating various scientific systems beyond x-ray and neutron scattering"
Smart Combinatorial Research Equipment (SmartCoRE) for Automated Sample Analysis and Environmental Control on Synchroton Beamlines,DE-FG02-10ER85861,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,1000000.00,"Jema Science, Inc",1530 Grand Ave,,Piedmont,CA,94611-4330,No,Yes,No,Xiaodong Ding,Dr.,5103331626,ding@jemainc.com,Matthew Church,Dr.,5102820591,mchurch@jemainc.com,"Synchrotrons, operated by DOE and others, are large and expensive scientific facilities that nonetheless provide invaluable and highly demanded analytical tools for the investigation of basic material structure and properties. Many experiments require specific sample environments for in-situ analysis, but available tools to provide this have limited capabilities and are often incompatible with automation or synchrotron techniques. Compact sample chambers with embedded microprocessor controlled electronics will provide a customizable environmental control platform that can be effectively arrayed, automatically controlled and analyzed to increase efficiency at synchrotron beamlines. A smart and compact sample environmental chamber has been designed that is compatible with synchrotron as well as visible light optical analysis techniques. An imbedded microprocessor controls sample temperature between -50 and 400 C using a thermo-electric device or heater and can additionally control user supplied electrical devices as well. These chambers are designed to be stacked in arrays and individually programmed with unique control parameters while coordinating with automatic analysis processing. A prototype array of these sample chambers will be constructed and tested on an operational synchrotron beamline. Experience gained from these tests will be used to create a fully functional commercial product family for the automation of in-situ synchrotron analysis. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: This product has the potential to accelerate development of novel and useful material properties by making experimental analysis using both x-ray and visible light more efficient."
Carbon Nanofiber Supercapacitors for Grid Scale Energy Storage,N00014-11-M-0352,DOD,NAVY,STTR,2011,1,80000.00,"Jema Science, Inc",1530 Grand Ave,,Piedmont,CA,94611-4330,No,Yes,No,Xiaodong Ding,President,(510) 333-1626,ding@jemainc.com,Yuegang Zhang,"Staff Scientist, LBNL",(510) 486-5282,yzhang5@lbl.gov,"Jema Science Inc teams up with Dr. Yuegang Zhang""s group at Molecular Foundray of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to propose an electrochemical capacitor (supercapacitor) energy storage concept based on low-cost electrospun carbon nanofibers. We take advantage of extremely low-cost of electrospinning technology coupled with our research on metal oxide nanomaterials to produce state-of-the-art supercapacitors. To realize such a breakthrough concept, developments at three levels are needed including materials, processing and devices. Highly conductive carbon nanofibers will be fabricated by an electrospinning technology using multicomponent polymer precursors and a carbonization process. Surface area and pore size will be characterized. We will further develop a process to co-electrospin metal salts in polymer precursors and a post annealing process that can carbonize the nanofibers and convert the metal salts into metal oxides. We will assembly supercapacitor devices and study the electrochemical performance, including impedance, cycling, self-discharge, power and energy density analysis under different current density and optimization. In the later stage of this project, we will study device scaling and perform cost and safety analysis."
Mixed-Ligand Targeting of a Nano-Pharmaceutical Against GBM Stem Cells,1U43CA156841-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,174766.00,"Parabon NanoLabs, Inc.",11260 Roger Bacon Drive,Suite 406,Reston,VA,-,No,No,No,Steven Armentrout,,703-689-9689,steve@parabon.com,Steven L. Armentrout,,703-689-9689,steve@parabon.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this Phase I SBIR project, Parabon NanoLabs, Inc. (PNL) will produce a novel, nano- pharmaceutical compound that preferentially selects and destroys brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs) to aid the treatment of glioblastomamultiforme (GBM), one of the most lethal brain cancers. BTSCs in GBM have been identified as a highly tumorigenic cell subpopulation that promotes tumor angiogenesis and therapeutic resistance. For example, as few as 100 BTSCs can initiate tumor growth ina mouse model, whereas 1 million non-stem cells from the same tumor cannot. The inability to eliminate sufficient BTSCs with the current standard of care may account for the gt90% recurrence rate of GBM and its poor prognosis. Using Parabon's Essemblix Drug Development Platform, the lead compound and its experimental variants will be developed upon a proprietary molecular breadboard, called PNL24, that can be functionalized with different targeting ligands and cytotoxic payloads in plug and play fashion. These compounds will be used to test the hypothesis that mixed-ligand, low-affinity targeting can achieve superior BTSC targeting specificity versus single-ligand alternatives. To test BTSC specificity, three targeting compounds will be created by functionalizing PNL24 with one of two different targeting ligands and a combination of both. Dye-labeling of each compound will be used to test in vitro targeting specificity, measured via fluorescent confocal microscopy, against BTSC and normal human cell lines serving as controls, specifically, neural stem cells, neurons and astrocytes. The most selective of the three targeting structures (hypothetically the mix-ligand construct) wil be further functionalized with a diphtheria toxin derivative and the resulttested for efficacy against BTSC and safety against three normal cell lines via standard cytotoxicity assay. Finally, the anti-BTSC efficacy of this compound will be tested in a hBTSC intracranial xenograft mouse model via convection-enhanced delivery (CED). If found to be both safe and effective, this compound will be the lead compound for future studies in a subsequent Phase II project that examines systematic toxicity, PK and biodistribution in preparation for an eventual IND application. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This Phase I SBIR project will produce a novel nano-pharmaceutical compound that actively targets and destroys brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs) from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), one of the most lethal forms of brain cancer. Built usingthe Essemblix Drug Development Platform, which enables first-of-its-kind plug and play molecular engineering, an actively targeted nano-compound and experimental variants with different targeting components, will be produced. The compounds will be tested against representative cell lines and a mouse model to demonstrate selective targeting and destruction of BTSCs, and negligible toxicity to normal brain cells."
Origami Antibodies for Threat Sensing,W911NF-11-C-0269,DOD,ARMY,STTR,2011,1,100000.00,"Parabon NanoLabs, Inc.",11260 Roger Bacon Drive,Suite 406,Reston,VA,-,No,No,No,Paula Gawthorp-Armentrout,Corporate Secretary,(703) 689-9689,paula@parabon.com,Michael Norton,Professor,(304) 696-6627,norton@marshall.edu,"Beginning from an advanced stage of development, this Phase I STTR project will produce designs and prototypes for a ricin-specific artificial antibody constructed using DNA origami. These novel constructs will provide both a capture function (mimicking the properties of an antibody) and intrinsic electro-optical reporting functionality, a significant improvement over current antibody capability. Accordingly, they will prove a compelling substitute for antibodies in a wide variety of applications, beginning with ELISA-like field tests for threat sensing, but generalizable to all current antibody applications. Phase I includes two experimental thrusts. The first involves the design and characterization of constructs that demonstrate control of important physical properties, including size, shape, charge and relative hydrophobicity; the second is the development and demonstration of a synthetic construct to capture and report optically the threat agent ricin. These efforts will lead to specifications for enhancements to Parabons existing origami design automation software, specifically for the creation of artificial antibodies. Such enhancements are essential for computing optimal placement of capture and response elements, and displaying surface charge and relative hydrophobicity profiles. Phase II objectives will include development of artificial antibodies with more complex electro-optical reporting mechanisms and implementation of the software specifications developed in Phase I."
Design Software for DNA-Based Sensing Nano-Architectures,W911NF-11-C-0076,DOD,OSD,STTR,2011,1,100000.00,"Parabon NanoLabs, Inc.",11260 Roger Bacon Drive,Suite 406,Reston,VA,-,No,No,No,Paula Gawthorp-Armentrout,Corporate Officer,(703) 689-9689,parmentrout@parabon.com,Steven Armentrout,President,(703) 689-9689,steve@parabon.com,"Beginning from an advanced stage of development, this Phase I SBIR project will produce design automation software for creating DNA nanostructures for a wide variety of applications, remedying a deficit that has stymied advancement in this promising field. Building atop an established grid computing platform, the software will combine a robust, easy-to-use, CAD (computer-aided design) interface, which allows for the specification of complex DNA-based nano-sensor architectures, with a grid-powered sequence optimization engine that computes the sequence-sets required for reliable self-assembly of specified designs. The research plan calls for the integration of a nearest neighbor thermodynamics model with an opportunistic evolutionary search algorithm to effect sequence optimization across a large-scale computational grid. These new capabilities will reduce defects and increase the manufacturing yield of designed nanostructures, and provide designers with novel control over the order of DNA self-assembly, which in turn will lead to products with enhanced functionality. To test the resultant software, a prototype nano-scale molecular capture system will be designed and its formation experimentally validated in Phase I. A capture and reporter bio-sensor system will be developed and demonstrated in Phase II."
SNAPSHOT: A System for Predicting Human Physical Traits from Sample DNA,HDTRA1-11-P-0014,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"Parabon NanoLabs, Inc.",11260 Roger Bacon Drive,Suite 406,Reston,VA,-,No,No,No,Paula Gawthorp-Armentrout,Corporate Secretary,(703) 689-9689,parmentrout@parabon.com,Steven Armentrout,President,(703) 689-9689,steve@parabon.com,"OBJECTIVE: Develop a Forensic DNA Analysis Kit for Genetic Intelligence that can be used on unknown human DNA samples collected from the battlefield to provide information about the individual who deposited the sample, such as potential ethnicity, height, eye color, hair color, age, sex, and/or facial features. The kit should leverage Short Tandem Repeats (STR), Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP), mitochondrial DNA, or next generation sequencing technology. It should also be able to operate on existing commercial technology platforms. DESCRIPTION: Human forensic DNA analysis is routinely performed on materials of interest collected from incident sites or swabs obtained from known individuals. This analysis typically uses commercially available Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) kits to generate a DNA profile for the purposes of matching that DNA profile against another DNA profile to establish a potential connection or identity. Forensic DNA analysis has the ability to provide crucial information on individuals who may have built or had contact with IED""s or other potential Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). The ability to match an unknown DNA profile obtained from post blast IEDs and objects/containers involved in WMD activities can provide significant insight into who may have manufactured or transported the device, and what agents it may contain. If one is unable to match a DNA profile against an existing database to determine identity, then generating intelligence from this unknown DNA sample has tremendous probative value. The ability to determine the potential ethnicity, height, eye color, hair color, age, sex or facial features from this unknown human DNA profile can be used by commanders and warfighters to increase their situational awareness and enhance their battle management capabilities. The end product should be a Forensic DNA Analysis Kit that includes all critical reagents and operating procedures/methodologies required to generate genetic intelligence information such as, but not limited to, potential ethnicity, height, eye color, hair color, age, sex or facial features that can provide probative information on the potential source of the genetic material. The kit may use Short Tandem Repeats (STR), Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP), mitochondrial DNA, or next generation sequencing technology and must be able to operate on existing commercial technology platforms. The kit may be used by existing forensic DNA analysis laboratories. Current technologies such as liquid handlers, thermal cyclers, and genetic analyzers/sequencers provide the hardware/technology platform required to process genetic material however a comprehensive genetic intelligence marker and reagent kit that can be run on this platform has yet to be developed. A kit that contains all critical reagents and allows testing for numerous different genetic intelligence markers that is easily integrated into existing laboratory processes would be an advancement that enables more robust use of this capability. The genetic markers that are incorporated into the kit should have sound scientific studies that support their validity. The more useful genetic intelligence markers that can be incorporated into a single kit, using a single type of marker such as SNPs, the more likely that kit will be adopted for use. PHASE I: Develop a proof-of-concept plan for a Forensic DNA Analysis Kit for Genetic Intelligence that tests for genetic intelligence traits such as ethnicity, height, eye color, hair color, age, sex or facial features of interest using commercially available analysis processes. PHASE II: Develop one complete Forensic DNA Analysis Kit for Genetic Intelligence that tests for numerous genetic intelligence traits and demonstrate the use of that kit on both known and unknown human DNA samples. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The proposed kit may be useful for state and local forensic DNA analysis laboratories with DNA samples from unsolved crimes. REFERENCES: 1. President""s DNA Initiative (www.dna.gov), Research on Alternative Genetic Markers: http://www.dna.gov/research/alternative_markers/ 2. The U.S. Department of Defense New Idea Portal, DoD Needs in Battlefield Forensics: http://www.defensesolutions.gov/needs_BF.html 3. Forensic Science International Abstract, DNA-based prediction of human externally visible characteristics in forensics: Motivations, scientific challenges, and ethical considerations: http://www.fsigenetics.com/article/S1872-4973(09)00015-5/abstract 4. Forensic Science International Abstract, Genotype versus phenotype: Human pigmentation: http://www.fsigenetics.com/article/S1872-4973(07)00042-7/abstract 5. Forensic Science International Abstract, Human Eye Colour and HERC2, OCA2 and MATP: http://www.fsigenetics.com/article/S1872-4973(09)00211-7/abstract 6. President""s DNA Initiative web site, DNA Tools for Missing Persons Investigations: Physical Characteristics: http://www.dna.gov/research/alternative_markers/gene_polymorphism 7. Officer.com Article, July 2009, New DNA testing technique pinpoints hair, eye and skin color: http://www.officer.com/print/Law-Enforcement-Technology/New-DNA-testing-technique-pinpoints-hair--eye-and-skin-color/1$47580"
A Nano-pharmaceutical Platform for Creating Artificial Vaccines,W911NF-11-C-0267,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,"Parabon NanoLabs, Inc.",11260 Roger Bacon Drive,Suite 406,Reston,VA,-,No,No,No,Paula Gawthorp-Armentrout,Corporate Secretary,(703) 689-9689,paula@parabon.com,Steven Armentrout,CEO,(703) 689-9689,steve@parabon.com,"In this project, Parabon NanoLabs (PNL) will demonstrate the feasibility of extending its Essemblix(tm) Drug Development Platform, a combination of computer-aided design (CAD) software and DNA nano-fabrication technology, to produce Essemblix-V, a platform for creating artificial vaccines from a predefined set of""building block molecules""assembled on DNA origami. Given an epitope for a potential biothreat agent, Essemblix-V will allow the production of artificial epitopes (hereafter""mimotopes"") that can mimic the original epitope sufficiently to bind target antibodies with high affinity. Additionally, Essemblix-V will allow mimotopes to be arranged on origami in complex presentation patterns known to elicit rapid and potent immune response via T cell-independent activation. As a proof of concept, PNL will demonstrate the feasibility of (i) enhancing its existing inSequio(tm) CAD software to support the design of mimotopes with building block molecules; and (ii) modulating, through rational design, the charge distribution and hydrophobicity of specific mimotopes, since these attributes can affect conformation and stability. Prototype mimotopes will be created for /Borrelia burgdorferi/ and ricin toxin and their affinity to specific monoclonal antibodies will be demonstrated via ELISA assay. In Phase 2, artificial vaccines will be created for theses targets and evaluated in a murine model."
SBIR Phase I: Environmentally-Friendly Self-Thickening Chemicals For Improved Conformance Control,1047290,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,130046.00,"Chemeor, Inc.",841 E. San Bernardino Road,,Covina,CA,91723-1417,No,No,No,Patrick Shuler,DEng,6269663808,patrick.shuler@chemeor.com,Patrick Shuler,,6269663808,patrick.shuler@chemeor.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a new class of environmentally-friendly and sustainable biopolymer-based chemistries that can be modified and applied in oil and gas production operations. These new chemistries take advantage of the availability of natural polymers such as guar as a feedstock. It already has been demonstrated that guar and other biopolymers may be modified by adding other chemical groups to create ?green? polymer molecules with a broader range of solution properties. These may include the ability to have a self-thickening or gelling effect. Such fluids are applied in oil and gas wells to block selectively movement of subsurface water, thereby increasing hydrocarbon production. This sustainable technology would replace a competing chemical method based on using (not green) synthetic polymers. The broader/commercial impacts of this research are research breakthroughs that will have immediate and profound commercial potential for the target application of increasing the volume of oil produced in mature oil fields. The DOE estimates these fields in the U.S. have over 350 billion barrels of oil remaining in place that is not now recoverable economically. A new method that will produce some of this trapped oil cheaply with an environmentally-friendly chemical will be extremely attractive to the domestic energy industry. Besides the immediate target application for the oil and gas industry, the same types of new environmentally-friendly chemistries should find uses in other industries."
Cybersecurity and Networking: NIDS Front-End for Load Balancing at 100 Gigabits,DE-FG02-10ER85740,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,1000000.00,Cpacket Networks Inc.,2061 Landings Drive,,Mountain View,CA,94043-0827,No,No,No,Brendan O&apos;Flaherty,Mr.,6509699500,brendan@cpacket.com,Rony Kay,Dr.,6509699500,rony@cpacket.com,"Network Intrusion Detection Is a mission critical and computationally intensive application that needs to address future 100 Gbps networks. As the speed and complexity of networks increase, the challenge of intrusions, malicious attacks, and hostile activities is also increasing. Performance of existing solutions does not keep up with the increasing network speed. Today, even at 1 Gbps, commercial products falter under certain traffic conditions, thereby exposing users to attacks. NIDS cluster performance hinges on effective frontend load balancing at full line rate under any traffic conditions. New implementations should enable scalability of cost, complexity, and performance by silicon chip integration in Phase III. The focus of Phase II is robust front end balancing at full line rate with no compromise of performance under any traffic conditions. cPacket is utilizing its unique algorithmic fabric on a chip architecture, which has already been successfully deployed at Bro clusters for 10G networks, and extends it to 100G. The performance improvement is achieved by extending the algorithmic-fabric pipeline with first order partitioning logic, streamlining low level circuit design, adding 100 Gbps network interfaces, and implementing a complete 100 Gbps system that can be tested at full line rate and lends itself to further silicon integration and cost/power reduction in the future. cPacket collaborated with NIDS developers to create a functional requirements document. A feasibility assessment was conducted and the complete hardwaresoftware architecture and execution plan for the complete functional prototype at 100 Gbps in Phase II were developed. cPacket will deliver a working prototype performing at 100 Gbps full line rate and Deploy it in conjunction with actual Bro NIDS cluster in real 100G networks like ESnet. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: The benefits include better security at high speed 100 Gbps networks, shorter down time, reduction in disruptions, and prevention of associated productivity losses. Using off-theshelf computing clusters with frontend load balancing reduces the overall cost of ownership and frees up energy, space, and resources for functionality and productivity improvements. The 100G frontend will be proliferated initially to government organizations, and will also benefit commercial organizations with similar requirements. The new balancing technology is also applicable in the longer run more broadly. I t can seed new models for load balancing cloud applications delivery in the future. The deterministic algorithmic fabric technology lends itself to a high degree of cost/performance scalability by integrated silicon chip implementations in the future, with a potential to completely change the economics and cost/performance benefits of clusters with frontend balancing."
New Electrolytes for Lithium-ion Cells,DE-FG02-10ER85931,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,999984.00,Leyden Energy,46840 Lakeview Blvd,,Fremont,CA,94538-0000,No,No,No,Aakar Patel,Mr.,5109333833,apatel@mobiuspowerinc.com,Konstantin Tikhonov,Dr.,5109333849,kTikhonov@mobiuspowerinc.com,"Commercially available lithium-ion cells use electrolytes containing a mixture of organic carbonate solvents combined with lithium hexafluorophosphate salt. These electrolytes have significant disadvantages limiting the performance and safety of large li-ion batteries for automotive applications: regular electrolytes are flammable and the instability of the salt causes battery performance degradation and limits the cycle life. We propose to develop a novel Li-ion battery electrolyte composed of thermally stable lithium imide salt and non-flammable solvents. Use of this advanced electrolyte is coupled by employment of graphite foil as a cathode current collector, which unlike aluminum, does not corrode in lithium imide salts solutions. During our Phase I effort we prepared and tested lithium imide-based electrolyte formulations incorporating 80% of non-flammable components, such as fluorinated ethers and ionic liquids, and demonstrated drastically improved safety in 2.4Ah pouch cells with cathodes coated on graphite foil current collector. During the Phase II effort we will expand our development into a number of promising non-flammable fluorinated solvents and imide anion ionic liquids. We will optimize electrolyte formulations and overall cell design to meet rate capability requirements. New electrolytes will be evaluated for performance and safety in large 10Ah pouch cells designed for automotive applications. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Success of this program will lead to new generation of safer, longer lasting Li-ion cells. These Li-ion batteries will find use in many applications, including HEV, PHEV and EV. That will in turn help accelerate the growth of this market and the acceptance of these new vehicles by the buying public."
Sample Encapsulation Device,NNX11CF55P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99492.00,"Cadtrak Engineering, LLC",31 Santa Barbara Avenue,,San Anselmo,CA,94960-1653,No,No,No,David Levitt,Business Official,4152594929,dlevitt@cadtrak.com,David Levitt,Principal Investigator,4152594929,dlevitt@cadtrak.com,"NASA's Science Mission Directorate is currently considering various sample cache and return missions to the Moon, Mars and asteroids. These missions involve the use of a coring tool to produce rock and soil cores. The MEPAG committee recommends that core acquisition take place directly into an individual encapsulation sleeve with a pressed-in cap. The improved sample encapsulation technology of this proposal can be activated while the drill bit is still in the drill hole, thus preserving sample integrity before the core is even extracted. It also insures the sample does not fall out during bit extraction. The sleeves can handle cores of rock, soil or regolith; and are translucent or transparent enabling inspection of the core after extraction. They preserve stratigraphy, volatiles, voids and gaps, and incomplete cores. A unique aspect of the sleeves instills the ability to preserve core integrity even in the vibration and shock environment of a sample return mission. This proposed Phase 1 effort involves a design trade study, analysis and a proof-of-concept test. At the end of Phase 1, the innovations will be at TRL 4. A proposed Phase 2 effort would involve integration into a core drill design, environmental testing, and shock and vibration testing to advance the technology to TRL 6."
Percutaneous deliverable biomaterial for treating myocardial infarction,1R43HL108459-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,496930.00,Ventrix,3231 HILL ST,,SAN DIEGO,CA,92106-,No,No,No,Adam Kinsey,,619-800-0810,adamkinsey@ventrixheart.com,Adam M. Kinsey,,619-800-0810,adamkinsey@ventrixheart.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Heart failure following a myocardial infarction (MI) continues to remain a leading killer in the western world. In the United States, the estimated annual incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) is 745,000 new and 410,000 recurrent episodes. Approximately 22% of male and 46% of female MI victims become disabled with heart failure within six years of the original incident, with a total number of Americans in heart failure estimated at 5.7 million. There is a critical needto develop new therapies since end-stage heart failure is only treated through heart transplantation or left ventricular (LV) assist devices, and current pharmaceutical regimens do not adequately prevent post-MI negative LV remodeling. As an alternative to total heart transplantation, cellular cardiomyoplasty, or cell transplantation, has been explored for the treatment of myocardial infarction and heart failure; however, more recently acellular biomaterials have shown great promise in providing similar functional benefit without the complications associated with cell delivery. Existing materials have however been limited since none have been specifically for the myocardium, and none mimic the degraded post-MI extracellular matrix (ECM) they are intended toreplace. The materials suffer from 1) their inability to be delivered via current catheter technology, and/or 2) their lack of complex, myocardial specific ECM cues, which promote repair. The material used for the Ventrix product is the first example of amyocardial-specific material that can be delivered via catheter to promote repair in the post-MI environment. This material is liquid at room temperature and forms a porous and fibrous scaffold upon injection into the myocardium. We have shown that it promotes cell influx, including neovascularization, preserves LV geometry and cardiac function in a rat MI model, and can be delivered through a percutaneous transendocardial approach in a porcine model. The proposed study is a key step in bringing a biomaterial product to market, which will be complementary or mostly parallel to the current heart failure pharmaceutical market. Herein, we will test the feasibility of translating this new technology by achieving the following two specific aims: 1) Evaluate theretention and distribution of VentriGelTM in a porcine myocardial infarction model after 2D versus 3D guided transendocardial percutaneous delivery and 2) Determine the influence of VentriGelTM on post-myocardial infarction negative left ventricular remodeling, cardiac function, and potential for arrhythmias in a porcine myocardial infarction model. The objective of the proposed project is to determine the optimal percutaneous delivery approach for our biomaterial product VentriGelTM, and assess its feasibility in a large animal MI model. This will provide us with adequate data to begin a large scale, powered functional study to be conducted under a Phase II SBIR. The combination of the Phase I and II studies, which will be performed according to GLP guidelines, will be submitted to the FDA as part of an IDE application. This will be the first catheter deliverable regenerative biomaterial product for treating the millions of patients suffering from MI and heart failure. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The development of alternatives to total heart transplantation for the treatment of myocardial infarction and heart failure is a necessity because of the large patient population. This proposal seeks to test the feasibility of translating a novel percutaneous biomaterial therapy for treating myocardial infarction and heart failure."
SBIR Phase II: Heterogeneous Catalyst Technology for the Economical Production of Biodiesel from High FFA Feedstocks,1127280,NSF,NSF,STTR,2011,2,514830.00,NextCAT,440 Burroughs,,Detroit,MI,48202-3429,No,No,No,Shuli Yan,PhD,(248) 930-7587,info@nextcatinc.com,Shuli Yan,,(248) 930-7587,info@nextcatinc.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project proposes a potentially viable solution for many financially stressed biodiesel producers. Industry estimates that 75% of the installed base of 173 U.S. producers is currently idle. In order become economically viable, they must be able to use less costly, and therefore, less refined agricultural source oils as their feedstock. The R & D presented here builds on a successful NSF Phase I SBIR grant focused on discovering new acidified heterogeneous catalyst formulations capable of refining lower cost feedstocks without adding substantial process costs. Phase II will use these catalysts along with reaction kinetics developed in the subsequent SBIR Phase IB to assemble and demonstrate a pilot-scale biodiesel reactor that will continuously produce FAME from high FFA feedstock (>15% FFA) with a yield greater than 90% for a minimum of six months. The broader impacts of this research are the ability to simultaneously use low cost feedstock and to greatly simplify the biodiesel production process to achieve total cost saving of ~$1.00/gal. With these savings, retrofitted, currently idled facilities will be able to produce biodiesel fuel that will be cost competitive with petroleum diesel and help meet anticipated global market demand of ~8 billion gallons of biodiesel by 2015. These markets would add employment to economically depressed areas of the United States and bring the nation closer to energy independence."
Immersive Environments for Nutrition Education,2011-00181,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,1,99911.00,Diligent,901 NE LOOP 410 STE 600,,San Antonio,TX,78209-1306,No,No,No,Connie Hernandez,Contract Manager,210-826-9300,connie.hernandez@diligent-us.com,Kurt Steuck,"Director, Learning Technologies",210-826-9300,kurt.steuck@diligent-us.com,"Diligent is responding to the USDA FY2011 Research Priority: ""Developing and using interactive, information technology for nutrition educators and teachers to increase nutrition awareness and improve health and intervention strategies to address obesity among children."" Diligent Consulting, Inc., a Service Disable Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), addresses this strategic goal of improving the Nation's health and nutrition by designing and developing an engaging, interactive, adaptive, effective instructional system. The initial immersive environment is a point solution aiming to improve adolescents' and young adults' health-related decision-making and physical activities. Diligent proposes a simple model (or framework) that follows the general dichotomy between food/nutrition instruction and physical activity. The model, however, addresses both cognitive components (i.e., knowledge, skills) and behavioral components (i.e., healthy decisions, physical activity) of each. For example, Diligent proposes using a virtual world to encourage learners to make informed decisions in scenario-based games, such as making a series of selections at a fast food restaurant (forced-choice decisions), shopping in a virtual grocery store (open-ended decisions), and scavenger (search and find) games. Diligent is targeting the middle/junior high school population based on the discussions with the nutritionists, physical trainers, and school district officials. Many of the nutrition education initiatives surveyed target the same audience age range (e.g., 10-14 year olds). The initial solution will be fielded in San Antonio and the South Texas region, an area with a high Hispanic population and an obesity problem. Upon refinement, the integrated nutrition education and physical activity learning environment could be distributed to traditionally underrepresented populations who have limited access to engaging, effective nutrition education."
SBIR Phase II: Massively Dense 3D Integrated Memory,1127537,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,390810.00,Privatran,1250 Capital of Texas Highway South,"Building 3, Suite 400",Austin,TX,78746-,No,No,No,Burt Fowler,PhD,5124318460,burt.fowler@earthlink.net,Burt Fowler,,5124318460,burt.fowler@earthlink.net,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will further develop a two-terminal, electronically-programmable, nonvolatile memory array using materials commonly found in integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing. Each element is smaller than a single transistor and is formed using standard IC layers. This results in a three-dimensional (3D) integrated memory (3DIM) architecture achieved using a single substrate without need to assemble multiple die or wafers together with advanced bonding techniques. The ON/OFF conductance ratio and switching speed of these devices exceed the performance of competing technologies. Current flows through nanometer-sized regions of the device, and, as a result, the memory elements will scale to smaller dimensions without reducing the current through the device, thereby resulting in a dense memory array architecture with improved signal-to-noise ratio for each subsequent IC technology. The proposed overall program will include integrating a passivation layer, connecting each element with an isolation diode, optimizing device architecture to minimize footprint, and implementing 3DIM control and drive interface electronics. The program proposed herein addresses the topic by providing material innovations for improved performance in electronics where nano-scale semiconducting filaments are fabricated within a dielectric material for commercial data storage applications. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project are in the areas of microelectronics chip manufacturing for wireless, mobile internet and other portable devices using nonvolatile memory. Memristive device arrays impact numerous commercial markets including flash and embedded memory, and offer orders of magnitude more density as compared to conventional memory. By implementing massively dense 3D memory array architecture on a single substrate, there is no need to fabricate multiple substrates and bond them together, thereby simplifying the fabrication process, reducing manufacturing cost and increasing yield. In addition to portable devices, the proposed device may find applications in space-based earth sciences and astronomy since it is tolerant to x-ray and heavy ion radiation. Some recent approaches to achieve 3D memory on a single substrate have not been successful due to problems with external fields causing bit errors and low signal-to-noise ratio, or because device operation is based on thermal, ionic transport, or phase-change mechanisms that are inherently slow. The proposed memory elements are controlled using electrical signals rather than thermal or chemical energy, making them highly efficient and faster than competing technologies. Memory arrays will be fabricated in a commercial foundry and scaled to smaller dimensions throughout the Phase II project."
Embedded 3D Nonvolatile Memory,NNX11CH49P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99994.00,Privatran,1250 Capital of Texas Highway South,"Building 3, Suite 400",Austin,TX,78746-,No,No,No,Glenn Mortland,CEO,5126333476,gmortland@austin.rr.com,Burt Fowler,Principal Investigator,5124318460,burt@privatran.com,"Integrated circuits in NASA spacecraft and vehicle electronics must operate over large temperature extremes and mitigate radiation effects that can result in upset and/or destruction of devices. PrivaTran has previously demonstrated a two-terminal, electronically-programmable resistor as a nonvolatile memory (NVM) element with performance metrics exceeding those of competing technologies, and herein proposes this device as a radiation hardened NVM array formed within the metal interconnect layers of the integrated circuit and fully integrated in a 3D architecture, resulting in significant savings in weight, power and reliability."
Wavefront/ Wavefunction Sensor for 3D Imaging,FA8650-11-M-1094,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99983.00,Privatran,1250 Capital of Texas Highway South,"Building 3, Suite 400",Austin,TX,78746-,No,No,No,Glenn Mortland,President,(512) 633-3476,gmortland@austin.rr.com,Burt Fowler,Principal Investigator,(512) 431-8460,burt@privatran.com,"PrivaTran proposes to develop a Wavefront/ Wavefunction Sensor 3D Imaging high resolution SCA (Sensor Chip Assembly) for use in coherent 3D imaging of long range targets for Space Situation Awareness (SSA) through turbulent atmosphere. The Wavefront/ Wavefunction Sensor will be composed of a sensor assembly utilizing a SOA (Semiconductor Optical Amplifier) / sensor assembly and a ROIC (Read Out Integrated Circuit) receiver chip to provide amplification and high-speed sample-and-hold pulse shape capture. BENEFIT: By capturing the function coherently at a high repetition rate, both coherent amplitude vs. range and Doppler vs. range can be derived. These functions, combined with angle change between pulses allow a full coherent Inverse Synthetic Aperture image to be constructed of extremely long range targets"
3D Memristor Architectures for Software Defined Radio,N66001-11-C-5212,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,749956.00,Privatran,1250 Capital of Texas Highway South,"Building 3, Suite 400",Austin,TX,78746-,No,No,No,Glenn Mortland,CEO / President,(512) 633-3476,gmortland@austin.rr.com,Burt Fowler,Principal Investigator,(512) 431-8460,burt@privatran.com,"PrivaTran proposes the use of newly-developed manufacturing methods that convert materials commonly found in conventional integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing into memristor devices with increased packing density and an advanced, three-dimensional (3D) architecture. The memristor devices can be formed in the interconnect layers of a conventional IC so that the area available for underlying transistors is not affected. This approach results in a 3D architecture achieved using a single substrate without the need for bonding multiple die together with flip-chip or through-silicon-via technologies. Furthermore, the memristor devices are much smaller than single transistors for any given technology node, and will scale to smaller dimensions as IC technology continues to progress towards smaller and smaller transistor sizes. The two-terminal memristor devices have numerous advantages including on/off conductance ratios greater than 104, reversible and fast switching, long retention times and immunity to current-induced degradation. In addition, their inherent simplicity makes them highly compatible with Si-based microelectronics technology, leading to a 3D architecture that can be readily transferred into semiconductor products at the most basic, integrated circuit level."
Time series prediction for satellite ballistic coefficients,FA9550-11-C-0096,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,1,98844.00,"Omitron, Incorporated",7051 Muirkirk Meadows Dv.; Suite A,,Beltsville,MD,-,No,No,No,Mark LeBlanc,"Vice President, Western Region",(719) 226-1511,mark.leblanc@omitron-cos.com,William Barker,Chief Scientist,(719) 226-1511,william.barker@omitron-cos.com,"ABSTRACT: The leading errors in computing future positions of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) are generally due to inaccuracies in the thermospheric density and the prediction thereof. The use of Dynamic Calibration Atmosphere (DCA) has significantly reduced these traditional sources of error and variations seen in ballistic coefficients can now be attributed to unmodeled satellite frontal area changes. When the orbit of a satellite needs to be predicted, there is no way of knowing the correct value of the ballistic coefficient for the orbit prediction interval thus a value is assumed. The assumed value of the ballistic coefficient will cause the predicted orbit to be in error. Hence, considerable improvement in the quality of orbit prediction can be achieved by reducing the error in the assumed value of the ballistic coefficient. The ballistic coefficient for prediction is usually obtained from the estimated value prior to the prediction. Instead of assuming the previous estimated value, an analysis of the time series of a history of the estimated values may reveal some characteristics which then can be used to minimize prediction error. BENEFIT: Many Air Force and other agencies use satellite prediction products produced in the JSpOC. Therefore, the potential for greatly improved accuracy of the space catalog has far reaching applicability to a wide range of DoD and commercial users."
CSI: CRASH - Using Immersive Learning and Cross-Platform Mobile Solutions to Addr,1R43ES020142-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,WISDOM TOOLS,"501 N MORTON ST, STE 206",,BLOOMINGTON,IN,47404-3744,No,No,No,Jamie E. Kirkley,,812-856-4202,jamie@wisdomtools.com,Sonny E. Kirkley,,812-325-9100,sonny@wisdomtools.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This SBIR project, Case Study Investigation: Contextual Reconstruction of Accidents for Safety and Health (CSI: CRASH): Using Immersive Learning and Cross Platform Mobile Solutions to Address Accident Investigations from a Multi-Perspective Standpoint, seeks to design and develop an innovative advanced training technology (ATT) to address the need for contextual and accessible information on accident investigations. In this way, CSI: CRASH will empower workplace safety representatives with the knowledge to view accident scenes from multiple perspectives, understand best practices, and allow health and safety trainers to address learners' need for a well-rounded, awareness-level, innovative training solution. Phase I of this SBIR project will focus on training to increase understanding of basic accident investigation principles, with a long term goal of addressing a) the principles of root cause analysis, b) effective interviewing techniques, and c) understanding and accounting for hindsight bias. CSI: CRASH will also emphasize the many factors and perspectives that must be taken into consideration in determining accident causation. With these concerns in mind, WisdomTools proposes to develop CSI: CRASH, a web-based and downloadable blended learning course that is comprised of two main parts: 1) a blended learning course that utilizes multimedia case study, context-based learning methods, an eLearning module, and post work refresher microgames, and 2) CSI Mobile, a cross-platform (i.e., iPhone, Android, BlackBerry) mobile application that allows learners who have taken CSI: CRASH to access course resources such as images, definitions, pdfs, and diagrams on an ongoing basis and on the job site. Through the use of user participatory design, semi-structured interviews, usability testing, and learning gains/attitudinal change analysis, this Phase I effort will examine questions related to the technical and implementation feasibility of CSI: CRASH, including: 1) What content on accident investigation best practices is most critical for workplace safety representatives? 2) What features and functionalities are needed to support easy access and retrieval of information? and 3) Does the use of a blended and context-driven learning approach produce a net positive increase in learner knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) as compared with KSAs before the training course? The application is rated at a score level of 28."
Lightweight IMM Multi-Junction Photovoltaic Flexible Blanket Assembly,NNX11CA61C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599958.00,"Deployable Space Systems, Inc.",CA,,Goleta,CA,93117-3108,No,No,No,Brian Spence,Business Official,8058051313,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,Brian Spence,Principal Investigator,8058051313,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,"DSS's recently completed successful NASA SBIR Phase 1 program has established a TRL 3/4 classification for an innovative IMM PV Integrated Modular Blanket Assembly (IMBA) that can be rolled or z-folded and enables NASA's emerging high voltage solar electric propulsion (SEP) missions. Significant concept feasibility, design/analysis, trade study/evaluation, and proof-of-concept hardware build/test efforts executed during the NASA SBIR Phase 1 program have validated DSS's IMM PV IMBA technology as a potentially revolutionary flexible photovoltaic blanket assembly that provides high performance in terms of; high voltage operability, high specific power / lightweight (>1000 W/kg BOL at the blanket subsystem level, and >500 W/kg BOL at the array level), compact stowage volume (>50 kW/m3 BOL), rollable or z-foldable for stowage, reliability, modularity & rapid production, flexibility/durability and robustness, affordability, and adaptability to all existing industry flexible blanket solar array products. DSS's IMBA technology also accommodates standard ZTJ PV device technologies to provide significantly improved performance over current state-of-the-art."
Mass-Optimized Ultra Flex Solar Array with Integrated IMM Cell Flexible Blanket,NNX11CA62C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599037.00,"Deployable Space Systems, Inc.",CA,,Goleta,CA,93117-3108,No,No,No,Brian Spence,Business Official,8058051313,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,Steve F. White,Principal Investigator,8058051313,Steve.White@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,"Deployable Space Systems (DSS), in partnership with ATK Space and EMCORE, is focusing on the design development and optimization of the most promising advanced space photovoltaic subsystem now available: EMCORE's ultra-thin 33% BOL-efficient Inverted Metamorphic Multijunction (IMM) solar cell that is interconnected into module form and integrated onto an advanced flexible blanket (gore); specifically for implementation on the lightest solar array structural system currently in use, ATK's UltraFlex. The innovative and synergistic solutions conceptually developed during the Phase 1 effort produced a near-term, low-risk solar array system that provides breakthrough performance in terms of highest specific power (>380 W/kg BOL), light weight, scalability to large (>15 kW) wing sizes, high deployed stiffness, high deployed strength, compact stowage volume (>40 kW/m3 BOL), high voltage operation capability, reliability, affordability, and rapid commercial readiness. The Phase 2 study will successfully further increase the design fidelity (TRL) of the most promising IMM-integrated onto UltraFlex-specific triangular gore blanket solutions configured to meet key high-voltage SEP / deep space science mission requirements. The development, as performed on the cost-effective Phase 2 SBIR plan structured in detail, will allow for an expedient and low-risk commercial infusion of the ultra-lightweight integrated IMM PV UltraFlex solar array technology via continued hardware-based and test-validated development, and enables future missions, including near-to-medium term NASA Outer Planets and Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) science missions."
Elastic Deployable Composite Tubular Roll-Out Boom,NNX11CA93C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599680.00,"Deployable Space Systems, Inc.",CA,,Goleta,CA,93117-3108,No,No,No,Brian Spence,Business Official,8058051313,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,Brian Spence,Principal Investigator,8058051313,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,"Deployable Space Systems (DSS) has developed an affordable and ultra-lightweight elastically self-deployable Roll-Out Boom technology that provides affordability and mission-enabling performance features for current and future NASA missions. The Roll-Out Boom technology provides affordability and a significant performance increase in terms of extremely compact stowage volume, ultra-lightweight, broad scalability, high deployed frequency, high deployed strength, reliable/immediate/repeatable controlled deployment, high stiffness during deployment, good thermal/dimensional stability, highly conductive composite materials construction, space environmental survivability, and broad mission applicability. The Roll-Out Boom technology is applicable as an improved direct replacement to competing deployable structures, and is flexible in geometry, length, section, material, and construction to meet the most demanding mission requirements. The Roll-Out Boom is highly applicable as an enabling deployable structure for electric field sensors, antennas, gravity gradient booms, and magnetometer booms, or as a deployable structural platform for solar arrays, sunshades and/or other proprietary payloads. The technology innovation is applicable for practically all NASA and non-NASA missions as a direct replacement for classical state-of-the-practice deployable structure technologies."
Affordable Practical High-Efficiency Photovoltaic Concentrator Blanket Assembly for Ultra-Lightweight Solar Arrays,NNX11CE11P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99874.00,"Deployable Space Systems, Inc.",CA,,Goleta,CA,93117-3108,No,No,No,Brian Spence,Business Official,8057228090,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,Brian Spence,Principal Investigator,8057228090,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,"Deployable Space Systems, Inc. (DSS) will focus the proposed NASA Phase 1 effort on the development of our innovative Functional Advanced Concentrator Technology (FACT). FACT is an affordable practical high-efficiency concentrator blanket assembly for ultra-lightweight solar arrays. FACT coupled to an ultra-lightweight solar array structural platform (such as DSS's ROSA) will provide game-changing performance metrics and unparalleled affordability for the end-user. FACT will enable emerging Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Space Science missions, and other NASA missions, through its ultra-affordability, high voltage operation capability, high/low temperature operation capability, high/low illumination operation capability, high radiation tolerance, ultra-lightweight, and ultra-compact stowage volume. Once completely optimized through the proposed Phase 1 and Phase 2 programs the FACT technology promises to provide NASA/industry a near-term and low-risk flexible blanket technology for advanced solar array systems that provides revolutionary performance in terms of high specific power / ultra-lightweight (>400-500 W/kg BOL at the array level & >1000 W/kg BOL at the blanket level, PV dependent), affordability (>50% cost savings at the array level), compact stowage volume (>80 kW/m3 BOL, 10X times better than current rigid panel arrays), high operation reliability, high radiation tolerance, high voltage operation capability (>150 VDC), scalability, and LILT & HIHT operation capability."
SOLAROSA (Stretched Optical Lens Architecture on Roll-Out Solar Array),NNX11CE15P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99835.00,"Deployable Space Systems, Inc.",CA,,Goleta,CA,93117-3108,No,No,No,Brian Spence,Business Official,8057228090,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,Brian Spence,Principal Investigator,8057228090,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,"Deployable Space Systems, Inc. (DSS), in partnership with Entech Solar (ENTECH) and Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) will focus the proposed NASA Phase 1 effort on the development of our innovative SOLAROSA technology. SOLAROSA, named for Stretched Optical Lens Architecture on Roll-Out Solar Array, is a new lightweight, high performance space solar array that enables missions through low cost, lightweight, compact stowage volume, radiation hardness, high voltage capability, scalability to ultra-high power, and LILT/HIHT environment operability. SOLAROSA is a fusion of ENTECH's proven Stretched Lens Array (SLA) concentrator technology with DSS's innovative ultra-lightweight Roll-Out Solar Array deployable structural platform. The proposed SOLAROSA technology promises to provide NASA/industry a near-term and low-risk solar array system that provides revolutionary performance in terms of high specific power (>400-500 W/kg BOL at wing level), affordability (>50% projected cost savings at the array level), lightweight, high deployed stiffness, high deployed strength, compact stowage volume (>80 kW/m3 BOL), reliability, high radiation tolerance, high voltage operation capability, scalability, and LILT & HIHT operation capability (LILTÂ? Low Intensity Low Temperature, HIHT Â? High Intensity High Temperature)."
Modular Ultra-High Power Solar Array Architecture,NNX11CE61P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99996.00,"Deployable Space Systems, Inc.",CA,,Goleta,CA,93117-3108,No,No,No,Brian Spence,Business Official,8057228090,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,Brian Spence,Principal Investigator,8057228090,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,"Deployable Space Systems, Inc. (DSS) will focus the proposed SBIR program on the development of a new highly-modularized and extremely-scalable solar array that provides immense power level range capability from 100kW to many Megawatts in size. The proposed ultra-high power solar array will enable extremely high power spacecraft, space-tug, power station applications, and large-scale Planetary and Lunar surface missions. The proposed technology's broad power level scalability is achieved while still retaining industry leading solar array performance metrics and mission enabling features for lightweight, high performance, compact stowage volume, and affordability. The proposed technology will enable future ultra-high power missions through low cost (25-50% cost savings depending on PV and blanket technology), lightweight, high specific power (>200 W/kg to 500 W/kg BOL at the wing level depending on PV and blanket technology), compact stowage volume (>80 kW/m3 for very large arrays), reliability, platform simplicity, high deployed strength/stiffness (10X stiffer and stronger than rigid panel arrays), radiation hardness, high voltage operation capability, scalability to ultra-high power (100kW to beyond Megawatts), and operability in unique environments (high/low illumination and high/low sun intensity)."
Ultra-Compact Lightweight Elastic Deployable Roll-Out Boom,HQ0147-11-C-7531,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99678.00,"Deployable Space Systems, Inc.",CA,,Goleta,CA,93117-3108,No,No,No,Steve White,General Manager,(805) 722-4941,Steve.White@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,Brian Spence,Principal Investigator,(805) 693-1319,Brian.Spence@DeployableSpaceSystems.com,"DSS""s innovative elastic deployable Roll-Out Boom will provide revolutionary performance when compared to conventional state-of-the-art technologies, and will significantly enhance operations and capability for future MDA and DoD missions, including PTSS and STSS. The proposed technology is strong, stiff, lightweight, thin, compactly-stowed, scalable, affordable, and can be fabricated from ultra-lightweight composite or metallic materials, and in a broad range of cross-sections. The technology can be made magnetic, non-magnetic, conductive, or non-conductive, and can seamlessly integrate harnessing. The technology can be used as a self-deploying antenna, deployment and support for calibration sensors, electric field antenna, linear actuator, grapple arm, gravity gradient boom, camera support, inspection aid, or as an actuator/structure for deploying payloads, antennas, solar arrays, instrument benches, solar sails, and sunshades. The Roll-Out Boom technology employs an innovative deployment synchronization system to provide controlled, reliable and repeatable deployments in a known kinematic path. The technology provides exceptional structural performance in a small lightweight package, and is a direct replacement to current state-of-the-art systems. Boom sizes envisioned can be from 0.5-inch to 12-inches in diameter (or greater), with lengths from 0.25m to 50m long (or longer)."
Water Properties Sensor,NNX11CC17C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599998.00,"Kaitech, Inc.",22 Mariners Drive,,Marshfield,MA,02050-3158,No,No,No,Richard E. Cox,President,7818378465,tooque@earthlink.net,Richard E. Cox,Principal Investigator,7817818465,tooque@earthlink.net,"In this Phase II project, Kaitech proposes to develop and demonstrate a Water Properties Sensor (WPS) sensing system to synchronously measure the spectral inherent and apparent optical properties and the physical properties of oceanic, coastal, and fresh water. This single instrument will provide oceanographers with a small, easy to deploy, affordable, and adaptable integrated sensing system to collect and measure geospatial information of the in situ water's fundamental marine processes."
Physics-Based Head and Neck Surgical Simulation of Soft Tissue Manipulation,1R43DE021641-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,149895.00,"SIMQUEST , LLC","1010 WAYNE AVE, STE 940",,SILVER SPRING,MD,20910-,No,No,No,Ellen K. K,,301-587-9440,eshair@simquest.com,Dwight Meglan,,301-587-9440,dmeglan@simquest.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): SimQuest LLC proposes to develop a physics-based head and neck simulator to enhance training of dental, endodontic, oral, maxillofacial, plastic, trauma, ENT, and other trainees and surgical educators. This Phase I workwill advance the state of the science in surgical education by establishing the foundation for a simulator that will greatly enhance surgical training, be usable in the curriculum of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), and will pave the way for similar work in other areas. This large step forward in surgical education will enhance outcomes for patients, especially those with congenital facial defects, oral cancers, or traumatic facial injuries requiring reconstruction. The Specific Aims of this Phase I proposal are designed to address the critical technical areas that must be mastered to provide an effective simulation for use in teaching nerve repair, the first area of project focus. The three Specific Aims are (1) simulate accurate heterogeneous tissue of the facial region; (2) demonstrate the feasibility of an accurate, interactive, physics-based simulation of microsurgical repair; and (3) develop a prototype curricular structure for use in conjunction with the AAOMS to illustrate how an approach similar to what has SimQuest has done previously for the American College of Surgeons (ACS)/Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS) surgical curriculum can work. SimQuest's head and neck surgery simulator will be uniquely suited to training surgeons in the complex procedures needed for facial reconstruction surgery, which is largely accomplished via microsurgery. SimQuest's previous work, which demonstrates physically accurate real-time tool-tissue interaction for a number ofsurgical activities, will be used as the foundation for the proposed work. When complete, this simulation-based head and neck surgery training system will be an integral part of the curriculum of future head and neck surgeons, and will pave the way for amore effective means for new technology and techniques-facilitated advancements to be adopted into existing practice. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The physics-based head and neck simulator that will be made commercially available as a result of this project will fill a stated need for more effective training in head and neck surgery. This advance in surgical education will enhance training by standardizing curricula, automatically tracking and assessing performance using objective criteria, and allowingtrainees to practice to proficiency prior to operating on actual patients. Increased safety and better outcomes resulting from better trained surgeons will result in substantial cost savings as well as improved patient quality of life."
Discrete Geometry Toolkit for Shape Optimization,NNX11CB69C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599212.00,"Optimal, LLC",181 Summertree Road,,Starkville,MS,39759-,No,No,No,Greg Burgreen,Business Official,6626622286,burgreen@o-ptimal.com,Greg Burgreen,Principal Investigator,6626622286,burgreen@o-ptimal.com,"Simulation-based design optimization has been steadily maturing over the past two decades, but not without its own unique and persistent challenges. The proposed project will develop a novel solution to one of the long-standing bottlenecks in simulation-based design optimization. Particularly, we will develop a flexible geometry toolkit for shape parameterization and modification as required for design optimization. With our discrete geometry toolkit, shape modifications will be achieved via an elegant and intuitive ""plug-and-play"" approach, providing engineers with a wide variety of options for shape parameterization, shape deformation, and geometric constraint imposition. Our geometry toolkit will be composed of independent modules and will be easily integrated into existing or future analysis and design environments. Our approach will offer a modular and intuitive means to interactively synthesize appropriate modifications to discrete geometry shapes in a design optimization setting including the specification of geometric constraints and interdisciplinary data transfer."
Propellant Flow Actuated Piezoelectric Rocket Engine Igniter,NNX11CB38C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,599974.00,"INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS, INC.",26200 ADAMS AVE,,MURRIETA,CA,92562-7060,Yes,No,No,Michael Gruszczynski,Business Official,9519517600,mg@iesnet.com,Mark A. Wollen,Principal Investigator,6195937750,mwollen@iesnet.com,"Under a Phase 1 effort, IES successfully developed and demonstrated a spark ignition concept where propellant flow drives a very simple fluid mechanical oscillator to excite a piezoelectric crystal. The Phase 1 effort exceeded expectations, with the device demonstrating reliable ignition of both hydrogen and propane fuels, and achieving in excess of 1 million impact cycles (40,000 start cycles) during fatigue testing without measureable degradation. Several spin-off concepts were also identified that provide additional options for improving spark ignition system design. For Phase 2, IES proposes an accelerated, 18 month effort to refine design concepts and analysis tools, and then develop specific ignition system designs for two customer applications, with the intention of having these ignition systems demonstrated in engine ground testing during Phase 2 and ready to start flight qualification immediately following the Phase 2 effort. Both customers (United Launch Alliance and Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne) have expressed interest and commitment in participating in the Phase 2 activity, making engines and facilities available for development testing, and integrating any resulting viable products into their flight engines. The ULA application is a new gaseous bipropellant H2/O2 attitude control thruster, for which the piezoelectric igniter is ideal as a simple, direct ignition source. The PWR application is for an evolved RL-10 study currently underway, for which the piezoelectric system might be scaled up or used as a pilot igniter for a torch, or make use of another spin-off concept that was identified during the Phase 1 effort. The timing of this Phase 2 effort coincides perfectly with near term needs of both these customers, as well as for other small engine applications in work to replace catalytic hydrazine engines with bi-propellant engines that will require a simple and reliable ignition source."
Flexible Screen Propellant Management Device for Near Term In-Space Demonstration,NNX11CH23P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99875.00,"INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS, INC.",26200 ADAMS AVE,,MURRIETA,CA,92562-7060,Yes,No,No,David Kerner,Business Official,9513047600,dckerner@iesnet.com,Mark A. Wollen,Principal Investigator,6195937750,mwollen@iesnet.com,"While evaluating lunar ascent and descent stage propellant acquisition options in 2008 and 2009 for NASA GRC, IES conceived a novel, flexible screen propellant management device (PMD). The concept provides a highly simplified and easy to build PMD as an alternative to a total communication device or one incorporating a start basket. Water bench tests with a very primitive prototype yielded encouraging results, and additional, simple bench-level testing with LN2 was also encouraging. An opportunity exists to refine the concept, develop a larger, more flight-like apparatus, and test it in a cryogenic tank currently being designed and subsequently intended for use on the Cryogenic Orbital Testbed (CRYOTE) experiment. Designing a full size flight qualifiable flexible screen PMD under a Phase 1 SBIR effort, followed by hardware fabrication, qualification and flight demonstration on a flight test platform concurrently in development, will allow this concept to be demonstrated for a fraction of the cost that would be required for a dedicated flight of a flexible PMD experiment. The concept TRL should move from 3 to 5 during Phase 1, and 5 to 7 during Phase 2."
The Hearthside Book Club: Pioneering Dementia-Level-Appropriate Reading Materials,1R43AG039907-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,149397.00,"HEARTHSTONE ALZHEIMER CARE, LTD",130 New Boston Street,Suite 103,WOBURN,MA,-,No,No,No,Vincent Antenucci,,330-334-5152,antenucci@thehearth.org,Michael J. Skrajner,,330-334-5152,skrajner@thehearth.org,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): An estimated 5.3 million Americans are currently suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD), and AD cases are expected to rise at an alarming rate (AD; Alzheimer's Association, 2010). Therefore, market potential exists forproducts, approaches, and/or training that can help treat and/or circumvent the challenging behaviors associated with the condition. One approach that has been shown to be effective involves the use of Montessori Activity Programming (MAP; Camp, 1999a; Camp, in press). MAP consists of a set of principles for developing and facilitating activities for engaging persons with dementia. In this study, we will develop a new Montessori-based activity: Hearthside Book ClubTM stories, which will be the first-ever dementia-level appropriate reading materials. Twenty topics will be chosen which are familiar and interesting to many older adults. For each topic, three different versions of the story/essay will be created. Developed for persons in the early stages of dementia, A-Grade Level Reading Materials will be 30 pages in length and be written at an 9th grade level; AA-Grade Level Reading Materials , developed for persons in the Middle Stages of dementia, will be 20 pages in length and will be written at the 6thgrade level; finally, AAA-Grade Level Stories , created for persons in the Late Stages of Dementia, will be 10 pages in length, and will be written at the 3rd grade level. A total of 60 stories will be created for this study (20 topics at three reading levels). Half of the Hearthside Book ClubTM booklets (split equally among all reading levels) will contain pictures. Forty-five older adults with dementia will take part in the study. They will be assigned to one of three groups: the Early Stage Group (Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) score of 18+), the Middle Stage Group (MMSE 11- 17), or the Late Stage Group (MMSE 5-10). The engagement/affect of persons taking part in Hearthside Book ClubTM sessions will be compared against the engagement/affect of participants in baseline activities (e.g., bingo, current events, exercise, etc.) Hearthstone Book ClubTM sessions will also be compared against the engagement/affect of participants in small-group sessions using Reading Roundtable(R) booklets, which are designed for persons with dementia, but they are not adjusted for varying levels of dementia. Proximal outcome measures will involve engagement and affect, communications, and behaviors observed during small group reading activities. Distal outcome measures will assess agitation, depression, and quality of life. Measures will be taken at baseline, after two weeks of taking part in Reading Roundtable(R) sessions, and after taking part in level-matched reading materials sessions. The Specific Aims of this project are asfollows: (1) to develop reading materials (with and without pictures) tailored specifically to persons with varying levels of dementia; (2) to determine if matching text materials to levels of dementia is related to proximal and distal outcomes across levels of dementia; (3) to determine if the inclusion of pictures significantly relates to proximal and distal outcomes across levels of dementia. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: An estimated 5.3 million Americans are currently suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD), and AD cases are expected to rise at an alarming rate. Besides affecting the person with the condition, AD also presents a public health concern, due to the significant cost required to care for persons with dementia and due to the mental and physical stress placed upon caregivers of persons with dementia. So, there is an urgent need for products and programs that will engage and stimulate persons with dementia, while at the same time reducing the stress on caregivers. Through the development of special reading materials for persons of varying levels of dementia, the proposed project will help meet this need."
Mitral Valve Repair Device,1R43HL106826-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,149433.00,"MC3, INC.",3526 W Liberty Rd Ste 100,,ANN ARBOR,MI,48103-8872,No,No,No,Kathryn Osterholxer,,734-995-9089,koster@mc3corp.com,Brian Biancucci,,734-995-9089,bbiancucci@mc3corp.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mitral valve regurgitation is a serious condition related to heart disease. The most common and effective surgical method for treating this disease is with the use of an annuloplasty ring, which reduces the size of a dilated mitral valve to restore normal function. Many patients do not receive this procedure, however, either because they are too sick to undergo open heart surgery, or their condition has not yet progressed to the point at which surgery is justified. To address this large untreated patient population, many efforts have been undertaken to develop technology to repair leaky mitral valves via catheter. Of these, the Millipede concept is the only device which can perform a true ring annuloplasty. This concept uses a stent-like ring that can both expand and contract under a radial force and has many small barbed struts around its perimeter. The ring is mounted on the distal end of an expandable, cone- shaped delivery tool prior to delivery. The collapsed dilator-ring assembly is advanced toward the annulus and the apex of the cone is pushed through the valve orifice. The cone is then expanded, which simultaneously expands the ring to a known diameter and forces the annulus into a circular shape with the same diameter, resulting in automatic alignment of the ring and the annulus. Once aligned, a simple forward push of the delivery tool drives the barbed struts into the tissue and secures the ring in place. The dilator tool is then contracted down and removed. In Phase I of this project we will build functional prototypes of the ring and delivery system and test their performance on the benchtop in pig hearts. In Phase II we will further develop this device and conduct testing necessary to achieve regulatory approvalfor surgical use. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The goal of this project is to develop a percutaneous mitral annuloplasty ring for the treatment of dilated, leaking heart valves. This technology will allow leaky mitral valves to be treated without surgery, which will benefit a significant number of patients who have valve disease but are not candidates for surgery."
A Novel Catheter Enterogenesis Device to Treat Short Bowel Syndrome,2R44DK085765-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,971227.00,"MC3, INC.",3526 W Liberty Rd Ste 100,,ANN ARBOR,MI,48103-8872,No,No,No,Kathryn R. Osterholxer,,734-995-9089,koster@mc3corp.com,Philip M. Wong,,734-995-9089,pwong@mc3corp.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Short bowel syndrome (SBS) represents a large loss of intestinal length, compromising the absorption of nutrients and fluids to sustain life. Although patients may be maintained on parenteral (intravenous) nutrition, the morbidity can be devastating and associated mortality rates exceed 30%. Care for each SBS patient is in excess of 250,000 per year and estimated costs for just the first five years of the care of a child with SBS exceed 1.5 million. Although a number ofstrategies have been used to treat SBS, the results have been disappointing with high complication rates and death. Application of longitudinal distractive forces, as directed with an intraluminally placed device, induces intestinal growth in pig small intestine (1.7-fold) over a 7-day period. The lengthening (enterogenesis) is not merely a stretching of the intestine, but true growth with preservation of intestinal function. The goal of this proposal is to develop a catheter-based device which could be placed intralumenally for days to weeks in a clinical setting to deliver longitudinal forces to the intestine, allowing for an elongation of the bowel while keeping the continuity of the gastrointestinal tract intact. The catheter enterogenesis device (CED)is envisioned as a simple, effective means of improving survival for SBS sufferers. Phase 1 resulted in the successful development of a working prototype. Two inflated balloons effectively anchored to the intestinal wall and delivered the forces previously determined to be effective for enterogenesis. The aims of this proposal is to develop the insertion and removal technique for the device with a preference for endoscopic placement, to assess the safety of the device through blood flow measurements, gross tissue examination and histological assessment and finally to demonstrate the efficacy of the device to lengthen the bowel in a chronic study. Device development will accompany each stage. The overall impact of this device will provide a low cost, safeand effective device to treat patients with short bowel syndrome in response to a tremendous unmet need for patients and their families. Variations of the CED may treat disease processes in other hollow visceral organs such as esophageal and intestinal atresia, ischemic and infection processes resulting in massive colon resection and congenital exstrophy. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The overall goal of this research proposal is to develop a catheter based device which will deliver linear forces resulting in the growth of the intestine. The catheter enterogenesis device (CED) is envisioned as a simple, minimally invasive and effective means of improving survival for short bowel syndrome sufferers."
Simple Automatic Perfusion System for salvage after cardiac arrest,2R44HL092682-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,866980.00,"MC3, INC.",3526 W Liberty Rd Ste 100,,ANN ARBOR,MI,48103-8872,No,No,No,Osterholxer R. Kathryn,,734-995-9089,koster@mc3corp.com,Daniel E. Mazur,,734-995-9089,MAZUR@MC3CORP.COM,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Extracorporeal support (ECPR) improves survival in resuscitation from cardiac arrest from 5% to 30%. Extracorporeal support facilitates the salvage of donor organs after cardiac death (DCD). The Institute of Medicine report states that innovative methods to salvage DCD organs are the highest priority in organ transplantation. However ECS is rarely used for these applications. The limiting factor is the need for a simple automatic perfusion system which is inherently safe, can be initiated by paramedical personnel, and provides full support without operator intervention. MC3 is uniquely positioned to develop such a device. The research team at the University of Michigan has demonstrated that ECPR is feasible and results in30% healthy survival. The same team has shown that mechanical organ perfusion after death by cardiac arrest (DCD-ECS) restores liver and kidney function to transplantable status. Moreover, after transplantation these DCD-ECS organs are even more successful than organs from heart-beating brain dead donors. The goal of this research project is to design and produce a simple Automatic Perfusion System (APS) for extracorporeal support to facilitate ECPR and organ salvage from donors after cardiac arrest. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE The goal of this research project is to design and produce a simple Automatic Perfusion System (APS) for extracorporeal support as an adjunct to CPR in cardiac arrest, and to facilitate organ salvage from donors after cardiac arrest. ECPR can increase healthy survival in arrest from 5% to 30%. Salvaging organs from cardiac arrest donors could increase the availability of organs tenfold."
Millipede Percutaneous Annuloplasty Ring,2R44HL102961-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1193170.00,"MC3, INC.",3526 W Liberty Rd Ste 100,,ANN ARBOR,MI,48103-8872,No,No,No,Kathryn R. Osterholxer,,734-995-9089,koster@mc3corp.com,Brian Biancucci,,734-995-9089,bbiancucci@mc3corp.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Heart valve regurgitation is a serious condition related to heart disease. The most common and effective surgical method for treating this disease is with the use of an annuloplasty ring, which reduces the size of a dilated valve annulus to restore normal function. Many patients do not receive this procedure, however, either because they are too sick to undergo open heart surgery, or their condition has not yet progressed to the point at which surgery is justified. To address this large untreated patient population, many efforts have been undertaken to develop technology to repair leaky valves via catheter. Of these, the Millipede concept is the only device which can perform a true ring annuloplasty. This concept uses a ring that can both expand and contract under a radial force and has many small barbed anchors around its perimeter. After implant, a novel locking mechanism holds the ring at the desired diameter. The implantation process is performed by first inserting thedelivery tool, an oversized wire basket , into the annulus. This wire basket is larger than the annulus in diameter, but flexible enough to conform to the annular dimensions, which allows the user to find the annular tissue regardless of the size or shape of the annulus. Once placed in the annulus, the wires provide a series of rails, or delivery paths, over which the ring is delivered. The result is an automatic alignment of the ring and the annulus. Once aligned, a simple forward push of the ring drives the barbed anchors into the tissue and secures the ring in place. The basket is then contracted down and removed. In Phase II of this project we will surgically implant the prototypes developed in Phase I in animals. After developing a fully functionaldelivery system and conducting in vitro durability testing on the ring, we will perform percutaneous implants in animals. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The goal of this project is to develop a sutureless annuloplasty ring for the treatment of dilated, leaking heart valves. This will lead to an annuloplasty ring that can be implanted without surgery, which will benefit a significant number of patients who have valve disease but are not candidates for surgery."
A simple ventricular assist device for short term cardiac support,4R42HL096168-02,HHS,HHS,STTR,2011,2,523429.00,"MC3, INC.",3526 W Liberty Rd Ste 100,,ANN ARBOR,MI,48103-8872,No,No,No,Kathryn Osterholxer,,(734) 995-9089,koster@mc3corp.com,Jonathan Haft,,(734) 995-9089,haft@umich.edu,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cardiogenic shock can occur after open heart surgery or in association with myocardial infarctions, and carries a high mortality. Initiation of mechanical circulatory support can restore blood flow to vital organs and potentially save lives. In this proposal, we plan to develop a device designed to provide temporary mechanical circulatory support which is superior to currently available products in terms of safety, performance, and cost. The proposed BioVad uses the MC3 Mpump as a platform. The BioVad will provide self regulating, versatile, nonthrombogenic and reliable support to any adult patient with cardiogenic shock. We plan to modify the existing MC3 Mpump for prolonged support in the intensive care unit by reducing its size and weight, allowing vacuum assisted drainage, and evaluating surface coatings to reduce blood clot formation. We will test the prototype devices on a simulated circuit for performance, durability, and biocompatibility. We will then apply the device in short and long term animal models, and demonstrate superiority to predicate devices. The device will be refined, and a plan for commercialization will be established. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: We propose to develop a temporary mechanical blood pump for the treatment of sudden heart failure and shock. Our prototype BioVad will be superior to currently utilized devices, and we will demonstrate its desirable features using bench simulations as well as short and long term animal studies."
Apparatus and Method for Convection Enhanced Therapeutic Delivery,1R43CA150521-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,125832.00,"FHC, INC.",1201 MAIN ST,,BOWDOIN,ME,04287-,No,No,No,Lee D. Margolin,,207-666-5651,lmargolin@fh-co.com,Lee D. Margolin,,207-666-8190,lmargolin@fh-co.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Malignancies of the brain are among the most devastating diseases known. Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) in particular are known for their rapid, uncontrolled, and aggressive growth. Very little progress has been made in the treatment of GBM over the past 25 years. A more recent promising therapeutic approach is convection enhanced delivery (CED) in which chemotherapeutics are infused under positive pressure and in high volumes directly into the tumor and surrounding tissue. However, the present methods for CED are suboptimal. Large- bore infusion cannulas are used which limit accuracy in placement and result in unacceptable backflow, or reflux , back up along the cannula walls and away from the target. The present application proposes the re- engineering and testing of a CED system (CEDSYS) that addresses these pitfalls. The resulting delivery system may enable effective medicines to be delivered more efficiently, reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with brain cancer. Further, the system and method may have applications to other diseases requiring broad distribution of therapeutic, such as stroke or some neurodegenerative diseases. The overall goal of this phase of the project will be to develop and refine the CEDSYS, ultimately translating it into a well-engineered instrument suitable for human clinical use. The salient innovation of the CEDSYS is as a single device that will marry the capability of precise placement of large volumes of therapeutic via multiple microtubes within discreet brain regions, while incurring minimal reflux of infusate back along the microtubes insertion track. In Phase I proof of concept will be established. Specific project tasks will include: 1.) Design and fabrication of a microtube placement tool, 2.) Adaptation of the FHC microTargetingTM Platform as a means of stereotactic placement and fixation of multiple microtubes, 3.) Assessment of current infusion apparatus and parameters, 4.) Testing of the prototype CEDSYS in an in vitro modelof brain tissue, and 5.) Optimization of design specifications based on test results. The feasibility of this approach will be established if both placement and fixation of multiple microtubes can be demonstrated to be accurate and stable and if infusion can be performed without reflux of infusate. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: A diagnosis of malignant brain cancer is essentially a death sentence. The survival time is typically less than a year from the time of diagnosis. It is estimated that in 2009, 22,070 malignant brain tumors will have been diagnosed. The proposed CEDSYS offers a credible option for patients with aggressive malignancies - for which no effective treatment exists."
"Multi-Camera Real-Time Feature Recognition, Extraction&Tagging Automation (McFRETA)",FA8650-11-M-6194,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99554.00,"EOIR Technologies, Inc.",P.O.Box 1240,,Spotsylvania,VA,-,No,No,No,Scott Crane,"Dir., Business Development",(540) 349-2753,scrane@eoir.com,Bruce Swett,Principal Investigator,(571) 339-1709,bswett@eoir.com,"ABSTRACT: With the proliferation of video sensors in the battle space, Intelligence Analysts are inundated with massive amounts of data, a small proportion of which may contain items of operational significance. EOIR Technologies, Inc. (EOIR) is proposing to develop and deliver a prototype open source, real-time video event detection, metadata tagging and video display system, with search capabilities. This integrated system will leverage an existing video processing and exploitation framework and user interface developed by EOIR, to reduce technical risk. The Phase I research effort will involve: extending the video processing framework for real-time multiple-camera data ingestion; integration of an anomalous event detection algorithm into the framework; adaptation of a metadata standard for event representation; and user interface extension for real-time, multiple-camera data display and rules-based metadata queries. The Phase I product will include the prototype system, as well as the test and evaluation results of both the components and integrated system. BENEFIT: The EOIR solution will provide Intelligence Analysts with a real-time video event processing system based on a tested, open-source video framework, with multiple camera video ingestion, as well as the ability to produce and search standardized metadata tags of anomalous events. Technologies developed under this SBIR are applicable to DoD, Intelligence, and the Department of Homeland Security missions, as well as to commercialization in the private security sector."
Nanopatch System for Next Generation Ion Channel Recordings,2R44GM093521-02A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,800329.00,"ELECTRONIC BIOSCIENCES, INC.","5754 PACIFIC CENTER BLVD, #204",,SAN DIEGO,CA,92121-4207,No,No,No,Miss M. Ann,,858-412-1705,mpoquette@electronicbio.com,Geoffrey Barrall,,858-228-3205,gbarrall@electronicbio.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Phase II SBIR program aims to further develop Electronic Bio Sciences' (EBS) Nanopatch system for ion channel measurements. The proposed system will allow high sensitivity measurements previously only attainable with the patch clamp method to be performed on a planar lipid bilayer (PLB) system. The system relies on a nanometer scale bilayer on the quartz nanopore membrane platform and EBS designed electronics to reduce the noise typically associated with a traditional PLB system. The aims of this program are to improve the low frequency noise performance to rival that of patch clamping, adapt established protocols and develop new methods to increase the types of ion channels that can be incorporated into the Nanopatch system and demonstrate the capabilities of the system using an intracellular channel with low conductance and fast kinetics. Four prototype Nanopatch systems will also be produced. This improved Nanopatch system will have several distinct advantages overcurrently available ion channel measurement apparatus including a low noise, high bandwidth platform, robust and reproducible bilayer formation, fine temperature and pressure control and automated bilayer formation and ion channel incorporation. The proposed Nanopatch system will enable a large range of low conductance channels and channels with fast kinetics to be evaluated in a PLB at previously unattainable resolution and sensitivity. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Ion channels are critical in an enormous range of physiological functions ranging from control of nerve impulses to cardiac regulation and medical researchers are discovering tens to hundreds of new channelopathies per year as many diseases are being recognized that arise from channel malfunction. In order to exploit this knowledge for new drugs targeting these channels, a complete characterization of the individual channel conductance is needed. The Nanopatch system will provide a means to achieve this characterization as well as increase the number of channels that can be investigated, substantially decrease the difficulty in obtaining these measurements and allow complete dose effect curves to be obtained due to increased measurement times with the robust bilayer platform."
Development of an in vitro assay as correlate of passive immune protection against botulinum neurotoxin to minimize use of whole animal testing,W81XWH-11-C-0085,DOD,CBD,SBIR,2011,1,149949.00,"ELECTRONIC BIOSCIENCES, INC.","5754 PACIFIC CENTER BLVD, #204",,SAN DIEGO,CA,92121-4207,No,No,No,Tracey Wrightson,Director of Operations,(858) 412-1800,twrightson@electronicbio.com,Eric Ervin,Vice President R&D - EBS Utah,(801) 582-0146,eervin@electronicbio.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a non-animal based in-vitro assay for determining the efficacy of Botulinum (BoNT) neutralizing therapeutics; the dual nanopore assay (DNPA). New technologies are currently needed in order to facilitate the development and approval of BoNT vaccines and therapies, and align with the NIH and FDA""s guidance for reducing/replacing the number of vertebrate animals used in medical testing. Currently, the mouse lethality neutralization (MLN) assay is the standard test for determining the efficacy of BoNT neutralizing therapeutics. However, the inherent variability in sensitivity of the MLN assay due to different mouse species, test conditions, and the need to utilize live animal testing severely limit its accuracy and utility. EBS""s DNPA will be capable of monitoring the complete mechanism of all seven BoNT isoforms, making rapid analysis of BoNT neutralizing therapeutics, including complex mixtures, possible."
Dual Nature Tamper Response Device for EO/IR Sensors,W31P4Q-11-C-0165,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99955.00,Azimuth Corporation,4134 Linden Ave.,Suite 300,Dayton,OH,-,No,No,No,Charles Rossi,Vice President,(937) 256-8571,crossi@azimuth-corp.com,David Tomlin,Principal Investigator,(937) 256-8571,dtomlin@azimuth-corp.com,"The objective of the Phase I program is to develop the requisite technologies to build tamper response devices that prevent the reverse engineering of military infrared focal plane array systems by destroying key elements of the IR system upon the detection of a tamper attack. The combination of mechanisms employed by the tamper response device is selectable from a variety of destructive mechanisms and can be tailored to the level of destruction required for the technology to prevent reverse engineering. Depending on the technology being protected, the level of destruction can vary from rendering the device inoperable to completely destroying the device. This flexibility enables the tamper response device to be used in a wide variety of applications including ones requiring no collateral damage and no harmful byproducts."
Rapid Part Qualification Methodology of Aircraft Metallic Components using Direct Digital Manufacturing Technologies,N00014-11-M-0191,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,77050.00,"B6 Sigma, Inc.",41B Bisbee Court,Suite B4,Santa Fe,NM,-,No,No,No,Mark Cola,President,(505) 438-2576,cola@b6sigma.com,Vivek Dave,Executive Vice President,(505) 438-2576,vivek@b6sigma.com,"Despite tremendous potential cost advantages, there is one very serious obstacle in the path of successful, widespread adoption of Direct Digital Manufacturing as a viable aerospace manufacturing technique: namely qualification and certification of processes, materials, and components. This roadblock to adoption is significant and dramatic. The cost implications alone of introducing a new material to aerospace, either on the airframe side or the engine side, are considerable, and the general rule of thumb is 2 years and $2M - $5M in non-recurring testing costs. Our unique approach to rapid qualification and certification combines limited and initial mechanical testing, advanced in-process sensing and process monitoring, microstructural characterization, and a statistical classification methodology that is truly multi-variate and can fuse these various inputs to result in a decision on whether or not a specific weld, deposit, or even part belongs in the same population as the nominal baseline certified parts, or is it anomalous in some way."
SBIR Phase I: In situ PFC Monitoring Sensors,1113251,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149899.00,Unified Science,15911 Furuby Rd,,Center City,MN,55012-0000,No,No,No,Chunze Lai,,6512136185,czlai@unitedsciencecorp.com,Chunze Lai,,6512136185,czlai@unitedsciencecorp.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the analysis needs for monitoring perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in waste water. Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are bio-accumulative, extremely persistent and toxic; and there is a huge effort surrounding remediation of PFOA and PFOS contaminated areas. Considering the impacts on environment and public health, it is important to monitor PFOA and PFOS. Although there are established LC/MS/MS methods to measure them at low levels, this equipment is expensive and not generally field portable. This research aims at the development of a field and lab deployable ion-selective electrode that permits selective and fast measurement of PFOA and PFOS with a low detection limit at low cost. The project will take advantage of the highly selective and fouling-resistant fluorous membranes recently licensed from the University of Minnesota. The broader impacts of this research are significant as the proposed sensor will provide a fast, easy, sample pretreatment free, selective and economical detection method for environmental monitoring, compliance and remediation efforts, which are currently hampered by costly and time consuming liquid extractions coupled with LC/MS. Additional broader impacts include expanded application of the sensor to measure the contaminant in blood, soil and food. Most importantly, these efforts are important and instructive to direct and monitor remediation and enable in-field research. We view this effort as an integral part of a wider effort to understand and reduce sources and pathways by which the persistent substance has become widespread in the environment."
Analysis of New WWVB Modulation Schemes for Future Broadcast,SB1341-11-CN-0095,DOC,NIST,SBIR,2011,2,300000.00,"XW, LLC dba Xtendwave",7920 Belt Line Road,Suite 1000,Dallas,TX,75254-0000,No,No,No,,,,,Oren Eliezer,,(972) 290-0967,OEliezer@Xtendwave.com,"This Phase 2 project targets the completion of the development of an improved system for the broadcasting of the WWVB signal, as a direct continuation of the Phase 1 project, which successfully validated the proposed approach through a feasibility study and analyses. Objectives of this project include the design of the new modulation scheme and protocol, the development of a new time-code generator to be used in place of the existing one, and the development and demonstration of a receiver prototype that can validate the expected improvement in the performance, as well as low-cost manufacturability. The novel receiver architecture, relying extensively on digital processing, is to be realized in a CMOS fabrication process, allowing it to be integrated with many types of CMOS system-on-chip products, including microprocessors for remote metering applications, clocks, MP3 players, and many more. Additionally, new structures of low-cost antennas for various applications are targeted, to replace the commonly used ferrite-rod antennas, and more specifically to avoid directionality and nulls in the antenna pattern."
SBIR Phase I: Self and Alien Crosstalk Cancellation for Copper-Based Cellular and Access Backhaul,1047336,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,"XW, LLC dba Xtendwave",7920 Belt Line Road,Suite 1000,Dallas,TX,75254-0000,No,No,No,Oren Eliezer,PhD,9722900967,OrenE@ieee.org,Oren Eliezer,,9722900967,OrenE@ieee.org,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project targets increased data throughputs in cellular and access backhaul networks that are based on copper twisted-pairs to address the ever-growing demand for capacity and the consequent bottlenecks that are experienced in them. The performance in the multi-twister-pair channels is limited by crosstalk and interference caused by various sources in their noisy environment. The technology to be developed in this Phase I project offers significant increases in throughput through cost-effective interference-mitigation mechanisms. The company?s key innovation is in low-latency dynamic interference cancellation algorithms, which greatly enhance system performance while maintaining acceptable implementation complexity. The project will involve both research and development at the algorithmic level, as well as system implementation challenges associated with the minimization of the system?s cost and power consumption. More specifically, the innovation includes novel approaches to training-sequence design and numerically-robust schemes for the mitigation of both self-induced crosstalk as well as unpredictable crosstalk originating from other systems sharing the cable of twisted pairs (alien interference). Based on preliminary results, it is anticipated that this technology will offer critically needed throughput enhancements ranging from a factor of 2 to a factor of 5, depending on the operating scenario. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project would be in enabling low-cost broadband services to a greater part of the population and thus also in fostering remote education, telecommuting and e-commerce. About 80% of the cell towers in the US utilize copper twisted-pairs for their backhaul, and the equipment market, valued at $5.6B in 2009, is expected to grow to $11.2B by 2013 due to deployment of bandwidth-intensive smart-phones and cellular Internet offerings. Hence, the relevant market sectors directly impacted are chip and communications equipment manufacturing. Many new micro-cells and femto-cells, offering wireless access in a coverage area smaller than that of a typical cell tower, are being deployed to offer wireless broadband coverage while relying on cooper-based backhaul. The copper infrastructure typically suffers capacity limitations and is interference-dominated while the higher-capacity alternatives, fiber and microwave, are costly and slow to deploy. The interference-mitigation technology enabling this breakthrough, developed in collaboration with the University of Texas at Dallas, may be applicable in other multi-channel communication systems, and can serve, for example, to better utilize scarce wireless spectrum."
SBIR Phase II: Ubiquitous Landline-Based Long-Reach Broadband Access,1058599,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,500000.00,"XW, LLC dba Xtendwave",7920 Belt Line Road,Suite 1000,Dallas,TX,75254-0000,No,No,No,Oren Eliezer,PhD,9722900967,OrenE@ieee.org,Oren Eliezer,,9722900967,OrenE@ieee.org,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project targets significantly increased throughputs and distances for broadband access over the existing copper landline infrastructure at low cost. In particular, the technology being developed offers advantages in interference-dominated and in suburban/rural environments. In the USA alone there are many millions of households that are currently out-of-reach of broadband access, where there are typically multiple copper landlines available, and the global demand for such solution is significantly higher. For these underserved subscribers, this innovative extended-reach solution represents the only low-cost broadband access alternative to costly, inefficient satellite coverage. While existing Digital-Subscriber-Line (DSL) solutions are not specified to provide broadband access at very long distances, the company?s novel solution greatly increases the achievable distances and allows broadband rates (1Mbps) to be delivered at extended ranges, as demonstrated in Phase 1 of this project. The technology combines innovative signal-processing algorithms with novel digital implementation architectures to allow for high-performance reduced-complexity and low current-consumption implementations. The broader impact and commercial potential of this project are in enabling affordable broadband service to the many households, which are currently out of the reach of broadband access, and in enhancing the performance of other copper-based applications. The technology will enable telco providers to better compete in areas where cable service exists, and can enhance existing solutions for copper-based backhaul, thereby helping service providers with the growing problem of backhaul bottlenecks associated with increased wireless traffic. The growing demand for solutions of this type has the potential to generate annual revenues on the order of $50M, representing a great business opportunity. Societal benefits include providing broadband service to previously-unreachable homes, thus allowing them to engage in remote education, e-commerce, and telecommuting, with all of the advantages that these entail. Ongoing collaborative research with local universities is serving to steer academic research in this field towards the actual needs and interests expressed by service providers, thus advancing the related fields in communication theory and circuitry design and involving students in this research."
Urban Forestry Modeling and Prioritization Tools,2011-00272,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,Azavea Inc,"340 N 12th St, Suite 402B",,Philadelphia,PA,19107-1100,No,No,Yes,Robert Cheetham,President and CEO,(215) 701-7713,cheetham@azavea.com,Robert Cheetham,President and CEO,(215) 701-7713,cheetham@azavea.com,"The project team will test the feasibility of making cost-effective urban forestry modeling and prioritization functionality available through a web-based software solution. Azavea envisions a product that will enable urban forestry management personnel and their coordinating organizations to maximize positive impact on the urban landscape and calculate the quantitative financial and non-financial metrics for return on investment, including such diverse factors as carbon storage and sequestration, stormwater runoff mitigation, air pollution removal, land cover summary, and overall water quality. If Phase I feasibility is proven, the prototype application developed for testing in Philadelphia will be refined and generalized in Phase II and beyond, enabling municipal and county governments, non-profits, neighborhood planning groups and citizens across the nation to perform tree planting prioritization and management studies at multiple scales, including city-wide, neighborhood and individual blocks on a street. The arguments for increasing the number and size of our urban forests are manifest. Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency and United States Forest Services indicate that urban street trees improve water quality by mitigating stormwater runoff; provide energy savings for residential and commercial buildings through summertime shade and wintertime windbreak; reduce the level of air pollution through carbon sequestration; lower overall summer air temperatures by shading impervious surfaces that would otherwise contribute to urban heat island conditions; and even increase property values through their aesthetics. Since the United States Census Bureau has indicated that more than 80% of the population in the United States resides in urbanized areas, it is clear that any changes to the urban environment have the potential for far-reaching impact on the health and well-being of the vast majority of our nation's population. Under urban tree planting initiatives throughout the United States, millions of trees will be planted over the next ten years as part of urban enhancement and revitalization efforts. Since ongoing budgetary constraints for many communities require careful planning and prioritization of all spending efforts, it will be important to strategically plan where each tree should be planted in order to justify expense and receive maximum return on investment. The impact of the new trees will be greatest if they are planted in locations that will have the greatest impact on ecosystem services such as water, stormwater and air quality management. Strategic management of urban forestry will be an increasingly important part of managing air quality in urban environments, and will work in conjunction with other ""green"" initiatives, such as reducing auto emissions and minimizing impervious surface cover. The prototype application will include the modeling and benefits calculation tools needed to proactively site and manage an urban tree population. These tools will also enable governments to accurately document and leverage urban forestry benefits data that may assist them in gaining much needed federal funding."
OpenTreeMap: Tools for Collaborative Urban Forestry,2011-02346,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,460000.00,Azavea Inc,"340 N 12th St, Suite 402B",,Philadelphia,PA,19107-1100,No,No,Yes,Robert Cheetham,President and CEO,(215) 701-7713,cheetham@azavea.com,Robert Cheetham,President and CEO,(215) 701-7713,cheetham@azavea.com,"The USDA Forest Service indicates that nearly 80% of the entire United States population lives in urban areas and depends on the essential ecological, economic and social benefits provided by the urban forest. Some of these benefits include: - Trees improve air quality by lowering air temperatures, altering emissions from building energy use and other sources, and removing air pollutants through their leaves. - By storing carbon and reducing carbon emissions from power plants through lowered energy use, urban trees have a far-reaching impact on global climate change. - The preponderance of asphalt and concrete in urban settings causes a ""heat island"" effect that increases urban air temperatures by several degrees. A shaded urban neighborhood provides heat island mitigation that reduces business and household energy use. - The reduction in expansion/contraction of asphalt caused by the shade from urban street trees can increase pavement life and reduce road maintenance costs, thus providing a synergistic reduction in the use of petroleum products that are found in roadway overlays. - Trees intercept rain on their leaf, branch and stem surfaces and by absorbing water through their roots. For every 5% increase in tree cover in urban communities, there is a 2% reduction in stormwater runoff and its corresponding contaminants that would otherwise enter local waterways as well as burden treatment plants. An important first step in the urban forest management process is the completion of a comprehensive tree inventory that documents the location and condition of existing trees and tree planting sites in a community. Despite the proven importance of the urban forest, the agencies responsible for tree management in the United States are frequently under-funded, short-staffed and their priorities are necessarily driven by weather damage, impact on electrical lines and other reactive activities. In many communities, citizens, students and non-profit organizations that are passionate about greening their communities could potentially supplement the government activities by planting and caring for trees. However, they lack the necessary tools they need to work together effectively, share critical information, and document ongoing progress. OpenTreeMap is a wiki-inspired tree inventory system that will address these issues by enabling both government and non-government stakeholder groups to collaborate in a more effective and consistent manner, thus making tree inventories widely available and more affordable for interested communities nationwide. A mobile version of the application will leverage a smart phone's GPS for tree location data and provide the ability to capture and upload digital photographs of each tree for posting on the website or for species identification purposes. OpenTreeMap calculates the benefits of each tree on the surrounding air and water quality. In addition to using this data to maintain existing trees, communities can also evaluate cost benefits by species that will guide future tree planting efforts and potentially address environmental issues specific to a street or neighborhood."
"Lightweight, Flexible Ballistic Protection System for Arc Shaped Shelters",W911QY-11-C-0024,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,337094.00,Tex Tech Industries Inc.,105 North Main St,PO Box 8,North Monmouth,ME,-,No,No,No,David Erb,Director of R&D,(207) 933-4404,erbdf@textech.us,Stan Farrell,Program Manager,(207) 933-9203,sfarrell@textech.us,"This SBIR will look to optimize four factors: ballistic protection, flexibility, weight and cube, and cost . The proposed arc tent protection system is intended to mitigate damage from indirect fire, such as a mortar attack, IEDs, and small arms fire. A mortar detonation causes two major threats to a soft-walled shelter. The mortar or IED releases fragments that have the capability to cause life threatening injuries to soldiers residing within the tent and the blast pressure produces a blast that could potentially rip apart the tent and cause portions of the tent to become a projectile."
Enzyme-based test kits for Phosphate,2011-02354,USDA,USDA,SBIR,2011,2,460000.00,Nitrate Elimination Co Inc,334 HECLA ST,,Lake Linden,MI,49945-1323,No,No,No,Ellen R. Campbell,"Vice President, Co-PD",(906) 296-1000,ellenr@nitrate.com,Wilbur H. Campbell,PI/President,(906) 296-1115,bill@nitrate.com,"Nutrient management is a touchy subject: there has to be a balance between regulatory concerns and adequate crop nutrition. Phosphate is an essential nutrient for plant productivity but also a major pollutant when applied in excess. On-the-spot testing for phosphate as orthophosphate (available, soluble, or reactive P) is an appropriate solution to give producers and their technical service providers (Extension agents, crop consultants, and farm managers) better control of the use of phosphate fertilizer in the field. NECi, The Nitrate Elimination Company, Inc., has developed a series of enzyme-based, environmentally benign, and reliable nitrate test kits with the assistance of USDA SBIR funding. NECi Ag-NTKs (Nitrate Test Kits for Agriculture) and lab reagents are being adopted by producers, consultants, and agribusiness. We now propose to develop a similar line of test kits for detection of Phosphate. Compliance with nutrient management regulations will be less burdensome when practical, affordable tools are readily available. The photometer (color reader) being perfected in Phase II is designed to work with both nitrate and phosphate test kits. The photometer will provide data on the N and P status of soils, runoff, feed, and crops. This information can be used for making timely, knowledge-based nutrient application decisions with an eye to maximizing profit and yield while staying in compliance. NECi's develops products that enable and encourage testing as an aid to conservation of rural quality of life. In a different context, NECi is deeply committed to Green Chemistry. Many of the methods routinely used by analytical chemists in the lab or out in the field require the use of hazardous or toxic reagents. Simplified methods designed for non-skilled operators tend to lack the accuracy, sensitivity, and selectivity required in order for the information gathered to be relevant and useful. Enzyme-based methods can satisfy both sets of users as the variability and instability characteristics of enzymes are solved though the use of recombinant protein expression and state of the art stabilization techniques."
Advanced Breakwater and Causeway Design Concepts,N00014-11-C-0096,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,227273.00,The Glosten Associates,1201 Western Avenue,Suite 200,Seattle,WA,98101-2953,No,No,Yes,Peggy Noethlich,Vice President,(206) 624-7850,plnoethlich@glosten.com,Thomas Mathai,Senior Associate,(206) 624-7850,tmathai@glosten.com,"The overall objective of this SBIR is to provide the Sea Base, i.e., a flotilla of ships that may be holding station or slowly transiting an area, with a complete systems concept for a quick-to-establish, low-maintenance, durable system of temporary breakwater. Such a floating breakwater is to enable causeway lighterage, such as the Improved Navy Lighterage System, to interface with ships in the Sea Base in seas up to Sea State 5. The solution envisaged in this study is to use a very large floating mat (VLFM) as a breakwater. The VLFM is not intended to act directly as a causeway, but rather as an environmental shield enabling existing causeway designs to operate under its protection, thus supporting a layered defense approach. This layered defense approach enables the VLFM to be sacrificial during extreme events and repairable in calmer seas thereby protecting sea basing operations inside its protection zone."
DEVELOPMENT OF A RAPID IN VITRO SCREENING ASSAY FOR DETECTION OF CANCER BIOMARKERS IN URINE AND BLOOD.,N43CO110069,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,200000.00,"NANOSCALE MATERIALS, INC.",1310 RESEARCH PARK DR,,MANHATTAN,KS,66502-,No,No,No,Frank Kroh,,785-537-0179,MADISONA@NANOSCALECORP.COM,Frank Kroh,,785-537-0179,MADISONA@NANOSCALECORP.COM,"The goal of the project is to develop a rapid in vitro screening assay for detection of cancer biomarkers in urine and blood. The aim is testing and optimization of nanoparticle sensors, based on cyanine dyes that are chemically linked to Fe/Fe3O4 nanoparticles via protease-selective consensus (cleavage) sequences. The focus is on the quantitative determination of active cancer-specific proteases in urine and blood via simple fluorescence measurements. The severing from the nanoparticle stops the efficientfluorescence quenching of the organic luminophore by the nanoparticle, thus allowing the detection of the protease activity. The matrix metalloproteinases, urokinase-type plasminogen activator, and cathepsins, are up-regulated in the vast majority of progressing cancers and can, therefore, serve as markers for cell survival/tumor progression, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling/ invasion. The focus will be on pancreatic cancer, and the studies will be done on urine and blood from 30 patients and 12 healthy individuals. Measuring twelve proteases in total that are linked to pancreatic cancer progression will allow us to obtain statistically significant measurements within 1 hour."
MULTIPLEXED BIOSENSOR FOR DETECTING LOW ABUNDANCE CANCER,N43CO110051,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,196467.00,"PHOENIX BIOSYSTEMS, INC.",6833 CORTE MUNRAS,,PLEASANTON,CA,94566-,No,No,No,Kumar Subramanian,,925-998-5075,KUMAR@PHOENIXBIOSYSTEM.COM,Kumar Subramanian,,925-998-5075,KUMAR@PHOENIXBIOSYSTEM.COM,"Title: Multiplexed Biosensor for Detecting Low Abundance Cancer Description: The proposed automated, miniaturized, highly sensitive, high throughout affinity/protein capture technology could be a powerful tool for the quantitative detection of known cancerprotein markers and the discovery of new tumor markers. This biosensor array platform will be easily adaptable to new markers that better detect cancer, estimate patient response to therapies, and improve the prognosis estimate for patients as these markers are discovered and linked to outcomes."
Improving Social-Behavioral Adjustment in Adolescents through Parent Training,9R44HD069183-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,992168.00,3-C INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT,"1901 N HARRISON AVE, STE 200",,CARY,NC,-,No,No,No,Melissa E. Derosier,,919-677-0102,derosier@3cisd.com,Amanda Harrell,,919-677-0102,harrell@3cisd.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): During adolescence, youth undergo pivotal biological, emotional, and cognitive shifts. Concomitant with immense internal shifts, adolescent peer relations become increasingly complex (e.g., cliques) and challenging (e.g., peer pressure) and, as teens struggle to define their young adult role, relationships within the family can become increasingly strained and conflictual. When youth experience difficulties navigating the transitions of adolescence, they are at heightened risk for developing a variety of mental health disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety), maladaptive behavior patterns (e.g., self-destructive or risk-taking behaviors) and academic failure. Parents are often at a loss for how to communicate with their teento help them through the turmoil of adolescence. The resulting elevated levels of parental stress not only negatively impacts adolescent adjustment, but also places parents at heightened risk for their own mental health problems, particularly depression.This Phase II SBIR project will continue the research and development (RandD) of a unique parent training intervention product, the Parent Guide to Adolescent Social-Behavioral Development (PGA). PGA is specifically designed to help parents learn and practice strategies to effectively help their teen through the interpersonal struggles of adolescence (with peers and family members). PGA will help parents learn how to work collaboratively with their adolescent to achieve social goals, thereby building parental confidence, reducing related parental stress, and enhancing parent-teen communication. The full PGA product will offer manualized, structured scripts for 12 parent group sessions, a wide array of written, video, and web-based intervention materials forparents, and a variety of online professional development and implementation support resources for providers. Once the program is finalized, a scientific evaluation of its efficacy will be conducted. Parents will be randomly assigned to PGA treatment (TX)or attention control (AC) conditions (n=72 each). Efficacy will be evaluated by examining changes in (a) parent understanding of social issues facing adolescents and social problem solving skills; (b) parental self-efficacy for helping their teen; (c) parenting stress; (d) adolescent social and behavioral functioning; and (e) quality of the parent-teen relationship (e.g., communication, conflict) as a function of treatment condition. We expect the TX condition to show significant positive change in each outcome area versus the AC condition which is expected to show little to no change. PGA will be a highly unique, innovative product that will fill a niche in the intervention marketplace not currently filled through any other commercialized product. This SBIRwill yield a valuable resource for providers and parents with the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of adolescents and their families."
Web Tool to Disseminate Empirically-based Interventions to Schools Phase II,2R44MH084375-03,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1338619.00,3-C INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT,"1901 N HARRISON AVE, STE 200",,CARY,NC,-,No,No,No,Melissa E. Derosier,,919-677-0102,derosier@3cisd.com,Melissa E. Derosier,,919-677-0102,derosier@3cisd.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Schools are the primary setting within which children receive mental health (MH) services. The effectiveness of MH programs has been repeatedly demonstrated for a wide array of MH problems, including behavioral and emotional disorders, substance abuse, ADHD, and suicidality. However, despite their availability, as well as recent education and federal financial incentives for use of programs supported by empirical evidence, MH evidence-based interventions (EBIs) are rarely used in everyday practice by schools. Further, school MH EBIs that have proven effective under strict research conditions often fail to achieve their intended outcomes when delivered in the real world . A wealth of research indicates the quality of EBIimplementation is directly related to 1) the likelihood the intervention will be integrated and sustained within the school setting and 2) the strength of its treatment effects. The goal of this Phase II SBIR is to continue the research and development ofCenterVention, a web-based technology infrastructure designed to promote broad-scale quality implementation of school MH EBIs. CenterVention will provide cost-effective high quality training, on-going implementation assistance, intervention resources, andadherence monitoring to support EBI implementation and sustainability within schools. Phase I prototype development and feasibility testing with key stakeholders were successfully completed, providing substantial support for the CenterVention product as well as specific recommendations for Phase II development. The first aim of Phase II is to revise each CenterVention component to enhance its usability and value. Once the full technology infrastructure is complete, we will integrate a third, independent school MH EBI and examine the usability of this new CenterVention application with school MH providers, teachers, administrators, and intervention developers. The second aim of Phase II is to conduct a rigorous, longitudinal test of the CenterVention productcomparing two randomized conditions: Implementation-As-Usual (IAU; i.e., traditional EBI implementation with no CenterVention support) and Enhanced Implementation (EI; i.e., CenterVention-supported implementation). Five implementation outcomes will be examined: (1) readiness for EBI implementation, (2) adherence to EBI protocol, (3) satisfaction with the EBI and its implementation support, (4) sustainability of the EBI over time, and (5) treatment benefits for students. The third aim of Phase II is to finalize all product components based on Phase II findings and evaluations and prepare CenterVention for Phase III commercialization. This SBIR project will yield a flexible, scalable technology infrastructure that can be applied to any school MH EBI to effectively decrease costs (time, financial, personnel) to both schools and intervention developers, enhance the integrity with which EBIs are implemented in the school setting, and increase dissemination of EBIs into real world everyday practice. The proposed WDT not only offers the potential for significant societal benefits, but also addresses a large, currently untapped market. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: As the mental health research-practice gap has become increasingly evident, numerous federal reports have called for action to better connect research findings to clinical practice (e.g., The President's New Freedom Commission Report [1]; Reports of the Surgeon General on Mental Health [2], Youth Violence [3], and Culture, Race, and Ethnicity [4]; and theNational Children's Call to Action [5]). Building on the recommendations of clinical and research community members during the Enhancing the Discipline of Clinical and Translational Sciences meeting (May, 2005), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified research efforts to bridge science and practice as the primary objective of NIH's roadmap. The proposed research directly addresses this NIH Roadmap priority as well as these federal calls for action. Each year, about 6% of America's children andadolescents receive some form of mental health (MH) care, at an annual cost of more than 11 billion. In addition, each year NIMH and other foundations fund more than 300 million for youth MH research, much of it devoted to treatment studies. The findingsfrom the proposed research will advance our understanding of how to successfully integrate MH EBIs into everyday practice within the primary MH service setting for youth, i.e., schools. Increasing the likelihood that EBIs will be adopted, used as intended, and sustained in everyday practice in schools, in turn, will increase the likelihood that youth and society at large will benefit from evidence-based practices."
Mobile Technology and Online Tools to Track Adherence in Chronic Illness Patients,1R43DP003101-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,149990.00,3-C INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT,"1901 N HARRISON AVE, STE 200",,CARY,NC,-,No,No,No,Janey Mcmillen,,919-677-0102,derosier@3cisd.com,Janey S. Mcmillen,,919-677-0102,mcmillen@3cisd.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The need to improve patient adherence to treatment protocol is immense, both for improved individual patient outcomes and advancement of scientific treatment knowledge. Past interventions to improve adherence have had mixed results, with the most success stemming from those that were very complex and costly. Convenient, cost effective tools to increase clinician/researcher awareness of adherence while creating minimal patient burden are needed. Self-monitoring (SM) is increasingly used across diverse medical fields as both a clinical tool and research method to gather critical adherence data from patients. SM presents myriad advantages over traditional data collection methods including lower recall bias, increased generalizability, and lower patient burden. However, traditional paper-and-pencil methods of SM are too complex and labor intensive for patients to complete easily, resulting in poor compliance and inaccurate, low quality data. In order to best sample patients' behaviors and experiences in real time and in natural environments, computerized SM technologies (C-SM) for mobile devices hold tremendous promise, with patients reporting them to be more convenient, less time consuming, easier to use, and more motivating to complete. Yet, despite the vast potential offered by C- SM, broad scale dissemination and use in medical treatment and research has not yet shown viability due to prohibitively high demands for time, finances, and trained technical staff to develop individualized software. Furthermore, currently available C-SM technologies are highly specialized for a specific purpose with little ability to adapt technology used for C-SM with one patient group to another. The goal of this Phase I project is to develop andtest a technology infrastructure to support creation and broad scale deployment of C-SM for mobile devices. The proposed Mobile Application System for Health Monitoring (MAS-HM) would allow clinicians and medical researchers to: (a) create C-SM assessments, protocols, and prompts specifically for deployment to mobile devices (smartphone app, mobile web, or SMS text messaging), (b) monitor and track patients' SM progress, and (c) conduct synchronous data analysis to determine patient adherence level. Most importantly, the MAS-HM will utilize a ubiquitous technology platform that would remove key barriers to adopting C-SM methods and make mobile deployment of C-SM accessible for any medical intervention or research study. This Phase I proposal will accomplishthree specific aims: 1) Design the MAS-HM prototype; 2) Conduct feasibility groups with clinicians, medical researchers, and adolescents and young adults with chronic illness; and 3) Establish final prototype specifications using data compiled and analyzed from the feasibility groups. These specifications will be used to guide Phase II development prior to efficacy testing. The final MAS-HM product will leverage the ubiquity of mobile devices combined with their powerful networking and computational capabilities to significantly increase C-SM accuracy, timeliness, and ease of use. Greater access to and use of C-SM should translate into improved patient adherence and treatment effectiveness. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Medical non-adherence has been identified as a major public health problem that imposes a considerable financial burden upon modern health care systems [1-5]. Because of the complexities in measuring adherence, no estimate can be generalized, but poor adherence is to be expected in 30-50% of all patients, irrespective of disease, prognosis, or setting [2, 3, 6-8]. This burden has been estimated to cost 100 billion each year in the US [4], including 10% of hospital admissions [2, 3]. Adherence is also critical to the integrity of clinical research findings in order to preserve sufficient statistical power for analysis and to minimize the potential for obscured findings. Indeed, as clinician's increasingly rely on treatment protocols that are based on clinical trial evidence, it is critical toaddress adherence in the realm of research as well [9-14]. The proposed MAS-HM would remove barriers to adherence monitoring and provide significant advantages in convenience, cost effectiveness, and utility over existing clinical tools and research instruments."
SBIR Phase II: A new drug discovery method to transform peptides to small molecules: proof of principle with p53-hdm2,1127154,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,500000.00,Carmot,409 Illinois Street,,San Francisco,CA,-,No,No,No,Daniel A. Erlanson,PhD,4159782159,derlanson@carmot.us,Daniel A. Erlanson,,4159782159,derlanson@carmot.us,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project creates a powerful drug discovery technology that uses an innovative fragment-based approach to identify small molecule inhibitors of difficult targets. Though many peptides can disrupt protein-protein interactions, conventional screening technologies are rarely successful at identifying small molecules that do so. In this project peptides are transformed into smallmolecule drugs through an iterative, systematic, empirical screening approach, whereby a small molecule can be evolved to harness key binding properties of peptide-based inhibitors. This proprietary technology, Chemotype Evolution, will be applied to the anticancer target p53-HDM2. The Phase I/IB grant demonstrated that peptides can be deconstructed into baits suitable for performing Chemotype Evolution. In Phase II, Chemotype Evolution will be used to convert these peptide-based baits into novel, potent, completely non-peptidic inhibitors of the p53-HDM2 interaction. Moreover, the flexibility of the technology will be increased by adding additional chemistries. The broader impacts of this research are two-fold. First, the inhibitors discovered could lead to new drugs for treating cancer. Second, their identification will validate a drug discovery technology that can be applied generally to difficult targets. Routine transformation of peptides into small-molecule drugs would create a wealth of profitable opportunities. Scientifically, this technology will advance the field of molecular recognition and provide a rapid and cost effective method for creating chemical probes to investigate biological pathways. The societal impact will be substantial, as the technology will facilitate the discovery of drugs for unmet medical needs, particularly where conventional technologies have failed."
Development of Filament-Based Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for the Standoff Detection of Radiological Materials,DE-FG02-10ER85881,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,998828.00,"Physics, Materials, And Applied Mathematics Resear","1665 E. 18th Street, Suite 112",,Tucson,AZ,85719-6808,No,No,No,Kevin Kremeyer,Dr.,5209032345,kremeyer@physics-math.com,Kevin Kremeyer,Dr.,5209032345,kremeyer@physics-math.com,"There is a growing need for sensors to detect radiological materials either for nuclear inspection or in the event of a nuclear attack. Thus, these sensors should have the capability of rapidly measuring key isotopic contents and ratios of actinides as well as other elemental composition of various impurities in condensed samples up to 250 meters with a spatial resolution of 1 mm. To ensure the safety of the operations personnel, the sensors should provide real-time and on-site standoff detection capability. Our proposed technology will be able to provide information required for the attribution of radiological material through remote isotopic analysis using laser filaments and an interferometric spectrometer. Information on various impurities in the samples will provide clues on where the materials were produced or mined. Our technology will furthermore provide a standoff-capable technology that can easily be remotely operated. Demonstrated the utility of laser filaments for standoff distance detection. A spatial heterodyne spectrometer has also been designed. To construct a compact, portable and integrated radiological material sensor. This system will consist of an filamenting laser system and a spatial heterodyne spectrometer. The system capabilities will be tested at a DOE National Lab to measure isotopic shifts of radiological materials. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: This new compact and integrated LIBS detection setup will be able to detect a wide range of materials, such as explosives, organic, radiological and fissile materials at standoff distances. Due to its capability to generate broad spectrum at range, this sensor can also be used for weather monitoring, LIDAR and remote sensing."
Full Pressure Range Environmental Gas Heating Holder for the Transmission Electron Microscope,DE-FG02-11ER90139,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,Hummingbird Precision Machine Inc.,8300 28th Ct NE,Unit 200,Lacey,WA,98516-7126,No,No,No,Norman J. Salmon,Mr.,360-252-2737,norman@hummingbirdscientific.c,Daan H. Alsem,Dr.,360-252-2737,daan@hummingbirdscientific.com,"Researchers are currently hindered from observing dynamic gas-solid interactions in the transmission electron microscope (TEM). Yet, solid-state materials and gases interact in many important ways. The most critical technological application for these observations is catalysis, where one would like to directly observe on the atomic scale how catalysts respond to the environment while they are active. Several areas of research, such as catalysis, sensors will greatly benefit from having access to such observations. The importance of catalytic studies for science and technology was highlighted by two Nobel Prizes in chemistry for catalytic studies (Ertl, 2007 and Suzuki, Heck, Nigishi, 2010) awarded in the past five years. This proposal focuses on developing a TEM specimen holder, where specimen is exposed to various gas atmospheres at different temperatures. Such device enables in-situ TEM studies of catalysts and sensors among many other materials of interest. Electron microscopy is the primary tool available for characterizing the internal structure of materials at the nanometer to sub-Angstrom lengths scales. Dynamic in-situ experiments are finding increasing use as direct methods to explore the relationships among materials processing methods, microstructure and functional properties (e.g. catalytic, sensing).Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Commercial availability of variable temperature gas TEM holder will facilitate academic research in the field of gas catalysis. It also provides a platform to study active elements of sensors during operation with relevant resolution (atomic length scale)."
Development of an Ultra Low Expansion Transmission Electron Microscopy in Situ Heating Holder,DE-FG02-10ER85990,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,1000000.00,Hummingbird Precision Machine Inc.,8300 28th Ct NE,Unit 200,Lacey,WA,98516-7126,No,No,No,Norman J. Salmon,Mr.,3602522737,norman@hummingbirdscientific.com,Daan H. Alsem,Dr.,3602522737,daan@hummingbirdscientific.com,"The primary experimental method used to determine the local internal structure of materials is that of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). If one also subjects the sample to an excursion in temperature during imaging at high resolution, one can watch the material processes involved in structural transformations. This allows direct and dynamic determination of the effects of materials processing on structure, and thus can provide critical insights to designing new materials with improved properties and performance. This approach not only permits deeper understanding of the basic physical processes involved, but also allows rapid exploration of a matrix of conditions and effects. However, current TEM heating holder designs that can accommodate a wide variety of specimens relies on substantially out-dated technologies, yielding significant problems with respect to drift / stability issues, expensive and time consuming maintenance and lack of precise and simple temperature control. Our motivation with this SBIR funded project is to develop a dramatically improved heating holder that is capable of delivering high-temperatures (1000C) to a sample, which is robust and as its most important feature has virtually no sample drift when the temperature of the sample is changed. In Phase I we build a prototype as proof of concept of the low drift mechanism. In Phase II we will optimize this prototype into a commercial product and make a double tilt version of the holder suited for all types of TEMs. This ultra-low drift TEM heating holder is expected to greatly aid researchers in exploiting hot-stage TEM, particularly during experiments that require imaging while increasing the temperature of the specimen, and are expected to lead to scientific advancements across multiple areas of research relevant to the DOE BES mission."
In-Situ Extended Lateral Range Surface Metrology,NNX11CF45P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,4D Technology,"3280 East Hemisphere Loop, Suite 146",,Tucson,AZ,85706-5024,No,No,No,Katherine Creath,Senior Research Scientist,5202945600,kathy.creath@4dtechnology.com,Katherine Creath,Principal Investigator,5202945600,kathy.creath@4dtechnology.com,"We propose to develop an extended lateral range capability for a dynamic optical profiling system to enable non-contact, surface roughness measurement of large and aspheric astronomical optics in-situ during manufacture. This instrument will be capable of measuring more than three decades of spatial frequency range for determination of rms surface roughness. It will be insensitive to vibration, being based upon our patented phase-sensor technology, and capable of being mounted on a computer-controlled polishing machine for in-situ measurement of large, aspheric and freeform optics. Objectives for Phase I are to demonstrate a novel automatic alignment system enabling in-situ extended lateral range surface profiling, demonstrate an extended lateral range concept, and to demonstrate a measurement range of more than three decades in spatial frequency. Anticipated results of Phase I will be documented laboratory demonstrations of these capabilities. Our TRL before Phase I is 2-3, after Phase I we anticipate a TRL of 3-4 and after Phase II a TRL of 6."
On-Axis RF Coupler and HOM Damper for Superconducting Accelerator Cavities,DE-FG02-11ER90129,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,1,142784.00,"Scientific Solutions, Inc.",11619 Chippenham Way,,San Diego,CA,92128-4281,No,No,No,Wayne D. Cornelius,Mr.,858-485-6411,wcornelius@ssolutions.cc,Wayne D. Cornelius,Mr.,858-485-6411,wcornelius@ssolutions.cc,"Radiofrequency (rf) power couplers are a critical and often troublesome component of superconducting accelerator systems. The couplers primary functions are power transfer and preserving the integrity of the cavitys cleanliness. Additional functions include loading the cavity to decrease the effective quality factor and extracting power that would otherwise excite unwanted resonant modes that could disrupt the beam. Conventional power couplers are based on a waveguide transition into a coaxial transmission line that penetrates the side of the beam tube near the resonant cavity. The coupling factor is increased by increasing the penetration of the coupler into the tube. Unfortunately, increasing the penetration produces a distortion in the electromagnetic fields that can push the beam away from the centerline. The on-axis coupler concept was developed as a means of overcoming these and other shortcomings of conventional side-couplers and has significant advantages compared with the current state-of-the-art couplers. The on-axis coupler replaces a portion of the beam tube immediately upstream of the cavity and the beam passes through the hollow center conductor of the coaxial transmission line. The cylindrical geometry does not perturb the beam and the penetration of the center conductor can be adjusted to optimize the coupling factor. In addition, this geometry couples well to the higher-order modes (HOMs) and propagates this energy into a region where can be safely dissipated. Our approach is to convert the conceptual design of a 1500 MHz on-axis coupler into a mechanical design that can be fabricated and tested at JLAB in Phase II. Translating the conceptual design into a mechanical design involves a large number of considerations including: 1) the efficient conversion of waveguide energy into coaxial energy with minimal reflected power, 2) the electrical and thermal design of the ceramic window, 3) the detailed design of the choke-joint isolating the center conductor, 4) issues associated with cryogenic design and thermal management, 5) the mechanical support and motion control of the center conductor, 6) efficient collection and safe dissipation of HOM energy, and 7) careful analysis to eliminate the propensity for electron multipacting. Addressing these issues involves 3D simulations of the radiofrequency circuit, simulations of the thermal properties, and development of a suitable mechanical design to support the cantilevered center conductor to minimize droop while enabling longitudinal movement for adjusting the coupling factor. Successful development of the on-axis coupler would significantly improve the operation of superconducting accelerator cavities. Phase III involves modification of this design to produce couplers suitable for operation at other frequencies"
Miniature Electron-Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) Ion Source for Industrial Applications and Research,DE-FG02-10ER85955,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,389811.00,"Scientific Solutions, Inc.",11619 Chippenham Way,,San Diego,CA,92128-4281,No,No,No,Wayne D. Cornelius,Mr.,8584856411,wcornelius@ssolutions.cc,Wayne D. Cornelius,Mr.,8584856411,wcornelius@ssolutions.cc,"The electron-cyclotron resonance (ECR) source is rapidly becoming the de facto standard source for accelerator applications where a reliable, robust, and low maintenance source of positive ions is needed for a particular application. As a result, a wide variety of ECR sources have been developed for specific accelerator applications ranging from isotope production to proton therapy to ion implantation and industrial processing. Note however that even the simplest of these sources is relatively large and requires hundreds of kilowatts of RF power. Electron-cyclotron resonance (ECR) sources used for industrial processing, such as ion implantation, are larger still. A small, lightweight, and reliable high-current source of singly ionized atoms could have a revolutionary impact on accelerator systems and industrial processing. The design of a miniature ECR (miniECR) ion source, developed under a Phase I grant, is considerably smaller and more compact than those available today. This source makes judicious use of dielectric materials to shrink the dimensions of the ion source to values significantly smaller than the free-space wavelength (~12 cm). An additional benefit of this small size is a reduction in RF power required to energize the source from hundreds of Watts to less than 100 Watts. The design of the miniECR source was completed in Phase I and two sources were fabricated for testing. The proposed Phase II program characterizes miniECR sources under a variety of conditions specific to different missions. In particular, beams of protons produced by a miniECR source will be characterized to optimize the source for proton-beam accelerators (isotope production, proton therapy, etc.). Operation of a miniECR source with deuterium ions will be characterized to optimize source parameters for neutron sources. Finally, characterization of a miniECR source operating with heavy ions optimizes the source for production of ions suitable for ion implantation and as a source of ions for tuning charge-breeder injection lines. The small size of the miniECR source, coupled with the inherent ruggedness and reliability of ECR sources, simplifies considerably the ion injector of proton accelerators and neutron sources. The small size also enables large ion implantation sources to be replaced with an array of miniECR sources. Additionally a linear array of miniECR sources enables wafer processing by sweeping a line source of ions across the wafer. This approach is not possible with existing ion implantation systems and enables a new paradigm in ion implantation processing that is more compatible with the large-aperture bending magnets used to isolate a particular ion species for implanting in the wafer."
AMADEUS,FA8650-11-M-6200,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99953.00,"21st Century Systems, Incorporated","11640 Arbor St, Ste 201",,Omaha,NE,-,No,No,No,Stuart L. Aldridge,"Sr. VP, Res&Dev",(402) 505-7887,stuart@21csi.com,Plamen Petrov,CTO,(402) 505-7885,plamen@21csi.com,"ABSTRACT: Airspace congestion with RPAs in close proximity to manned systems poses a serious threat for mishap. At present, RPA pilot training in airspace management is minimal. RPA operator training should consider communications, asset management, deconfliction, and coordination among RPA and manned system pilots, and air battle management personnel. 21st Century Systems, Inc. (21CSI), which has been developing intelligent agent-based decision support tools for more than 14 years, will apply its mature technology and research experience to help fill this gap. Teamed with Dr. Eduardo Salas of University of Central Florida""s Institute for Simulation and Training, an expert on team and individual training, 21CSI proposes AMADEUS, an integrated scenario development, execution, and after-action review system for robust airspace management training. AMADEUS will leverage 21CSI""s intelligent agent infrastructure and advanced resource allocation, management and coordination algorithms, successfully employed for AWACS weapons director training, as wells as its evidential reasoning technology to link coaching agents to trainee""s mission objectives, for a dynamic performance metric evaluation system with feedback into the training exercise. 21CSI""s extensive intelligent agent experience, coupled with our unequaled, perfect commercialization rating from the DOD, makes us the respondent most likely to get this capability into the hands of the warrior. BENEFIT: This effort will result in state-of-the art training system for airspace coordination and deconfliction in the combat zone, largely targeted at RPA pilots operating in airspaces shared with or adjacent to manned aircraft. This openly architected agent-based trainer will be flexible to advances in visualization, verbal and text-based communications and other enhancements, as they become available. After successfully demonstrating technical feasibility in Phase I, Phase II efforts will be dedicated to the full-fledged implementation of the AMADEUS Virtual Trainer prototype which will take the concept""out of the laboratory""and into a limited demonstration and testing with SMEs and RPA operators. Through expert feedback, training methodology expertise, and a strong technical background, the AMADEUS trainer will deliver a robust multi-modal training capability, useful in single-user scenarios or in large team training exercises. Its component-based architecture will allow the tool to easily integrate with existing simulation and training systems, augmenting their value for mixed manned/RPA system operator training."
Augur,N66001-11-M-5108,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,69999.00,"21st Century Systems, Incorporated","11640 Arbor St, Ste 201",,Omaha,NE,-,No,No,No,Stuart Aldridge,"Sr. VP, Res&Dev",(402) 505-7887,stuart@21csi.com,Plamen Petrov,Chief Technology Officer,(402) 505-7885,plamen@21csi.com,"History is replete with""intelligence failures""that were not intelligence weaknesses at all, but an inability to""put the pieces together""in time. Quintessentially, the 9/11 attack is an example, but it is merely the one most remembered. Pieces of intelligence were collected, like so many keys in a jar; but, without the validity and contextual issues resolved, the larger situations went unrecognized. Similarly, the validation and analysis of HUMINT reports is largely a manual process, tedious and burdensome, significantly delaying actionable information getting into the hands of the right person. The Navy can""t afford to continue to allow opportunities to be missed and ineffectual decisions to be made. 21st Century Systems, Inc. is pleased to propose to research and develop Augur, an intelligent HUMINT-processing capability. Augur will permit HUMINT collections to be rapidly corroborated and placed into context, creating opportunities and improving decisions through actionable intelligence. With extensive experience in researching and developing decision support technologies including within the intelligence domain, we represent the most qualified company to research and develop this end-to-end HUMINT analysis capability. And, with our high commercialization rating, we are also the company most likely to get it to the field."
"Modular Video Interface for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (M-VIISR)",N68335-11-C-0084,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79957.00,"21st Century Systems, Incorporated","11640 Arbor St, Ste 201",,Omaha,NE,-,No,No,No,Stuart Aldridge,"Sr. VP, Res&Dev",(402) 505-7887,stuart@21csi.com,Amber Fischer,Scientist,(808) 748-1825,Amber.Fischer@21csi.com,"Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnissance (ISR) systems are diverse, and each one comes with its own interface to process and present imagery to the warfighter. When coupled with the complexities of processing multiple types of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) full motion video, it creates an untenable situation that will only get worse into the future, where the complexity of managing ISR data surpasses the ability to handle it. Ultimately, the system uniqueness wastes the sailor""s time, and makes fleet operations less efficient. Due to continuing technology refresh, this problem is not going away on its own, thus, the only recourse is to design a system capable of addressing it. 21st Century Systems, Incorporated proposes the Modular Video Interface for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnissance (M-VIISR) system, which is a secure flexible interface for processing multiple full motion video and metadata streams from UAVs simultaneously, and presenting the results to the operator in a human understandable way. Our expertise with existing modular video input and processing concepts leaves us well prepared to solve the technical problems, and with our unmatched DoD Commercialization Rating, we are also the company most likely to get it into the hands of the warfighter."
Measure and Alert on Data Omitted by Compression (MADOC),W15P7T-11-C-S205,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,95335.00,"21st Century Systems, Incorporated","11640 Arbor St, Ste 201",,Omaha,NE,-,No,No,No,Stuart L. Aldridge,"Sr. VP, Res&Dev",(402) 505-7887,stuart@21csi.com,Amber Fischer,Scientist,(808) 748-1825,Amber.Fischer@21csi.com,"Critical information can be lost when lossy compression techniques are used in bandwidth limited environments, such as from unmanned systems. More serious, this lost information is unknown to the analyst, which can lead to incorrect analysis and potentially fatal conclusions. 21st Century Systems, Incorporated proposes to research and develop a technology that will alert data analysts, in real-time, when information in compressed video has information omitted. This technology, MADOC (Measure and Alert on Data Omitted by Compression), would allow the user to view, in near real-time, the information apparently lost during transmission, but available from raw data. The MADOC concept combines a solid understanding of the relationship between the loss of information in compressed imagery and the compression algorithm, an innovative mechanism for objectively alerting the analyst on the current information lost due to compression, and an intelligent user interface that will someday provide an intuitive method for the analyst to request and keep an accurate view in a sub-region or on an object of interest. Our extensive expertise and experience in video analysis, combined with our perfect SBIR commercialization rating, makes 21CSI the company most likely to get this crucial capability into the hands of the warfighter."
Smart Multimodal Image Registration and Fusion (SMIRF),N00024-11-C-4164,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,299488.00,"21st Century Systems, Incorporated","11640 Arbor St, Ste 201",,Omaha,NE,-,No,No,No,Stuart Aldridge,"Sr. VP, Res&Dev",(402) 505-7887,stuart@21csi.com,Amber Fischer,Scientist,(808) 748-1825,Amber.Fischer@21csi.com,"To improve safety, modern submarine surface imaging systems have multiple camera modes, such as optical, infrared, and more. Current systems display modalities independently, compelling the submariner to switch between sensors manually to glean the relevant information. Following a successful Phase I effort demonstrating technical feasibility of our concept, 21st Century Systems, Inc. is poised to complete development of a multimodal video fusion capability, providing a single, relevant picture with increased contrast for salient maritime targets while reducing clutter. Smart Multimodal Image Registration and Fusion (SMIRF) will produce a higher contrast composite image through selective fusion of multiple sensor modalities regionally within each image. SMIRF combines state-of-the-art image enhancement, real-time cross-modality registration, advanced saliency detection, proven image fusion methods, and a decision-making engine to create a dynamic real-time multimodal, locally optimal region-based video fusion solution. SMIRF""s adaptive approach allows it to intelligently choose""the right tools for each job,""rather than forcing the same solution in every situation. With our extensive experience in video analysis products and with a 100th percentile SBIR commercialization rating, we are just the company to deliver this capability so submariners can focus on seeing what""s in the area and not on which setting to use."
Variable Thrust/Specific Impulse Electrospray Propulsion,FA9550-11-C-0027,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,2,750000.00,Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation,3077 Teagarden Street,,San Leandro,CA,94577-5720,No,No,No,Mahadevan Krishnan,President,(510) 483-4156,krishnan@aasc.net,Mahadevan Krishnan,President,(510) 483-4156,krishnan@aasc.net,"ABSTRACT: Future Department of Defense space missions require precise, fine-positioning capabilities combined with large maneuvrability requirements. The purpose of this STTR is to: a) identify propellants for electrospray propulsion able to cover, at high propulsion efficiency, an unusually wide range of specific impulses, from several hundred seconds, typical today of colloidal propulsion up to values of thousands of seconds, typical today of only purely ionic propulsion; and b) meet thrust requirements by microfabricated multiplexed electrosprays. The challenge will be met with a fixed thruster and propellant. No electrostatic ion thruster based on ions of fixed mass/charge is suitable to span such a wide specific impulse range at high propulsion efficiency and full power. Electrospray propulsion, on the other hand, has this useful characteristic, since it admits a wide range of mass/charge values at relatively constant beam power. One can therefore use the full power available over the whole range of specific impulse with a single propellant. This STTR collaboration aims to validate this exciting new approach to micro-electric propulsion for military and civilian nano-satellite applications, capitalizing on the unique combination of expertise of the Yale-AASC team. BENEFIT: This project will develop innovative, on orbit propulsion methods that provide variable high thrust and high specific impulse at high efficiency, and enable system orbit agility or new orbit regimes. The high efficiency over an unprecedented range of specific impulse makes the electrospray micro-thruster a key enabling technology for all future nano-satellites."
"CEDAR (Complex Event Discovery, Analysis, and Ranking)",N00014-11-C-0496,DOD,NAVY,STTR,2011,2,742293.00,21st Century Technologies Inc.,6011 West Courtyard Drive,"Bldg 5, Suite 300",Austin,TX,-,No,No,No,Irene Williams,CEO,(512) 682-4700,SBIR_Admin@21technologies.com,Matt McClain,Principal Invesatigator,(512) 682-4735,mmcclain@21technologies.com,"Successful intelligence operations require the ability to anticipate enemy actions in time to prevent or mitigate their impact. These actions are often part of a complex set of events; for example, an assault on a specific place can involve planning and logistics activity as well as the coordinated movement of multiple actors. Complex event processing (CEP) techniques are a promising technology to enable the detection of emerging threats by monitoring intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data for combinations of simple behaviors which are indicative of enemy attack planning. By recognizing emerging complex events in this way, ISR data can be interpreted to extract timely actionable intelligence. 21st Century Technologies, Inc. with academic partner Calspan-University of Buffalo Research Center (CUBRC), is developing the Complex Event Discovery, Analysis, and Ranking (CEDAR) system to meet this operational need. In the STTR Phase 2 effort, we propose to enhance CUBRC""s existing CEP technology to operate in the asymmetric threat domain, where enemy tactics are highly variable and dynamic. We will also perform research to leverage the simple behaviors detected from multiple INT sources. By the end of Phase 2, we will have produced a prototype system that can detect emerging threats on operational data."
NetPAC: Network Prioritization Analysis Capability,FA8750-11-C-0150,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,98416.00,21st Century Technologies Inc.,6011 West Courtyard Drive,"Bldg 5, Suite 300",Austin,TX,-,No,No,No,Irene Williams,CEO,(512) 682-4716,SBIR_Admin@21technologies.com,Igor Frolow,Principal Investigator,(512) 682-4719,ifrolow@21technologies.com,"ABSTRACT: Through constant cyber attacks targeting our information infrastructure, our country faces a growing threat from nefarious groups and individuals intent on disrupting and destroying our infrastructure and way of life and acquiring military intelligence and intellectual property. Current methods used by the Air Force to defend against these attacks and protect the assets of its information networks typically focus only on ensuring that the information is transmitted successfully, not on the success of the mission. A need exists to change this cyber defense paradigm from information assurance (ensuring the successful transmission of information) to mission assurance (ensuring the attainment of mission objectives). Military missions and their supporting components and activities must be compared on an equal basis and prioritized according to their criticality in ensuring mission success. 21CT is proposing the Network Prioritization Analysis Capability (NetPAC), a system dynamics modeling approach to represent the activity network used to accomplish Air Force missions. The model will consist of the key activities and interactions needed to satisfy the military objectives and will give military planners a capability to analyze these activities and determine their priorities to determine the effects of disrupting a particular activity on one or more military missions. BENEFIT: If developed and implemented according to plan, NetPAC will be able to provide an invaluable capability to Air Force cyber security analysts and mission planners in identifying network components and activities that must be given higher priority prior to or during the execution of a mission. The analysts and planners will be able to run the model using a set of scenarios. The model will provide information on the impact that a cyber-attack induced degradation of capabilities in one or more activities might have on the success of a mission. This information will help identify higher priority activities. The ultimate benefit is the application of resources to the network assets that need them the most. The resources can be applied at the planning stage of the mission or during its actual execution since the model can be used to make asset prioritization adjustments in real time. The anticipated final results of NetPAC Phase I will include a proof-of-feasibility demonstration that illustrates the concepts enabled by the proposed approach. These concepts will show that it""s possible to conduct a complete comparative analysis of mission-supporting activities and determine how they should be prioritized. The ultimate intent is to extract the information needed to protect the Air Force""s most valued activities and ensure the successful completion of its missions. The results of the analysis and proof-of-feasibility demonstration will be documented in a final report at the end of Phase I. The Phase I results will determine the continuing research direction for Phase II and will provide the basis for the full-scale prototype to be developed in that phase. The lessons learned from the comparative analysis and demonstration of feasibility will be used to refine the system dynamics model and the performance metrics that will first be defined in Phase I. In addition, the knowledge gained from the construction of a limited set of scenarios in Phase I will provide guidance to the development team in constructing a comprehensive set of scenarios for the prototype demonstration in Phase II. The entire Phase I effort will be focused on building a prototype that can ultimately be fielded at the Air Force level or at a regional Network Operations and Security Center, and getting the final product ready for commercialization."
AIDEN: Analysis of Intelligence Data for Evidence of Networks,N00014-10-M-0455,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,69975.00,21st Century Technologies Inc.,6011 West Courtyard Drive,"Bldg 5, Suite 300",Austin,TX,-,No,No,No,Irene Williams,CEO,(512) 682-4700,SBIR_Admin@21technologies.com,Matthew McClain,Principal Investigator,(512) 682-4735,mmcclain@21technologies.com,"The goal of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations is to provide analysts and warfighters with situational awareness information. ISR enterprise systems store data to support these operations, but large volumes make it difficult to locate information of interest, such as key individuals. Current keyword-search approaches fall short because they fail to capture semantics. Social network analysis (SNA) techniques, including group detection and SNA metric-based classification, have been demonstrated to find valuable information in graphs, such as networks of interest and the roles of individuals in those networks. Current natural language processing (NLP) tools extract entities, themes, and relationships from unstructured text. By combining such NLP tools, information in text-based documents can be converted into a graph. The application of SNA techniques to such graphs has the potential to enable analysts and warfighters to efficiently locate actionable intelligence in ISR enterprise datastores. 21st Century Technologies (21CT) proposes Analysis of Unstructured Data for Evidence of Networks (AIDEN), a tool for locating information of interest in large, diverse data sources. Our Phase 1 work will focus on a proof-of-concept for applying SNA on graphs obtained from NLP, and identification of gaps in state-of-the-art NLP that will need to be overcome."
AURA - Ascertaining Un-Reported Affect,D12PC00005,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,749880.00,21st Century Technologies Inc.,6011 West Courtyard Drive,"Bldg 5, Suite 300",Austin,TX,-,No,No,No,Irene Williams,CEO,(512) 682-4700,SBIR_Admin@21technologies.com,Ron Larcom,Principle Investigators,(512) 682-4730,rlarcom@21technologies.com,"Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) functions as virtual tutors that adapt to student responses. Such ITSs, however, do not yield student learning improvements equivalent to students tutored by human instructors. Ascertaining Un-Reported Affect (AURA) is a closed-loop, platform-independent""front-end""for informing ITSs with near real-time inferences of student engagement and affect during learning sessions to further improve student learning and minimize student frustration. AURA leverages low-cost, non-invasive sensors to monitor students without disrupting their learning experience. Such an approach enables the large-scale deployment of AURA to students using ITSs. The key innovation in AURA is the ability to serve as a modular component that informs an ITS of changes in a student""s emotional or physical state that can affect the learning process by leveraging audio, video, and user interface feedback. During AURA Phase 2 we will implement an engineering prototype composed of established signal processing algorithms selected during Phase 1. We will evaluate the prototype using operational data collected from student""s interacting with a computer tutorial. AURA leverages 21st Century Technologies expertise developing systems for the military in speech and audio processing, image processing, and creating machine learning algorithms."
ACCESS: Automated Comparison and Clustering of Entity Signatures,N00014-11-C-0342,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,748126.00,21st Century Technologies Inc.,6011 West Courtyard Drive,"Bldg 5, Suite 300",Austin,TX,-,No,No,No,Irene Williams,CEO,(512) 682-4700,SBIR_Admin@21technologies.com,Sandeep Parikh,Principal Investigator,(512) 682-4744,sparikh@21technologies.com,"Available features to detect personas vary depending on the type of intelligence one is observing, and only facets of a persona are observable in each medium. New and enabling technology needs to be developed to search, capture, compare and identify disparate behaviors that may represent personas of interest. In response to this challenge, 21st Century Technologies proposed the Phase 1 Automated Comparison and Clustering of Entity SignatureS (ACCESS) effort to develop a novel similarity measure enabling comparison and detection of threat personas as they evolve over time. Our approach provided very promising results, as it was able to correlate activity patterns of known threatening entities and successfully identify over 90% of the entities in unlabeled data. For the Phase 2 effort, ACCESS will provide new and innovative tools to signals intelligence operators by providing the ability to recognize appearances of similar networks and match networks across disparate data sources, and to categorize the networks based on threat level. Our solution will improve the current operational environment by producing a similarity measure that can be used for multiple intelligence data types, so that behaviors of interest can be recognized in various scenarios and threatening entities understood in a more comprehensive manner."
Wall Characteristic Extraction for Through Wall Radar Systems,W15P7T-11-C-A015,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,69996.00,"AKELA, Inc.",5551 Ekwill Street,Suite A,Santa Barbara,CA,93111-2355,No,No,No,Allan Hunt,President,(805) 683-6414,ahunt@akelainc.com,Allan Hunt,President,(805) 683-6414,ahunt@akelainc.com,"AKELA is proposing to leverage the experience we have gained in developing systems for through the wall sensing by using our high performance field tested radar technology as the starting point for wall characteristic extraction algorithm development, performing experiments to bound major development risk areas, and using this data to determine achievable accuracy for extracting wall characteristics. Algorithms that are developed will be tested with Visibuilding data to verify performance."
Minimally Invasive Pediatric VAD for Treatment of Acute Heart Failure,4R44HL099192-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1122294.00,"ABIOMED, INC.",22 CHERRY HILL DRIVE,,DANVERS,MA,01923-,No,No,No,Howard M. Loree,,978-777-5410,hloree@abiomed.com,Scott C. Corbett,,978-646-1684,SCORBETT@ABIOMED.COM,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall objective of this proposed program is the commercialization of the Pediatric Impella system, a minimally invasive ventricular assist device (VAD) for treatment of acute heart failure in pediatric patients. The device will be a less traumatic alternative to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the current standard of care for these patients. The target patient population is in the age and weight range of 3 mos - 3 yrs and 5-15 kg. The Pediatric Impellasystem will be designed to unload the left ventricle and promote cardiac recovery, providing blood flow in the range of 0.5-2 lpm for up to 2 wks of support. Reviewers pointed out in discussion that the device is not as minimally invasive as claimed and will require more anticoagulation than is suggested in the application. Since there are only a few devices in the field for this problem, this proposal addresses a great unmet clinical need and has high significance. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: It is estimated that approximately 9,000 infants born with congenital heart defects each year in the U.S. require some form of invasive intervention during the first years of life. Many of these children require mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to recovery or to transplant. Shorter duration of support (for days to at most a few weeks) for acute, generally recoverable heart failure is mostly provided by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ECMO is highly invasive and is associated with a host of complications including blood clots, bleeding, ongoing heart failure, and strokes. Therefore, a strong unmet clinical need exists for a minimally invasive ventricular assist device (VAD) that can supplant ECMO for treatment of acute heart failure in pediatricpatients."
HealthCare Manager: Remote Medication and Health Plan Support System-Phase II,2R44AG034726-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,1242994.00,"AbleLink Technologies, Inc.",618 N. Nevada Ave,,Colorado Springs,CO,80903-1006,No,No,Yes,Daniel K. Davies,,719-592-0347,dan@ablelinktech.com,Daniel K. Davies,,719-592-0347,dan@ablelinktech.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): As the well known baby boomer generation surges toward retirement age, the issue becomes more significant each day of how this generation of 78 million seniors will be able to remain as independent as possible while increasingly burdened by the onset of multiple, chronic, medical conditions and a decline in cognitive abilities. Concurrent with the dramatic increase in the numbers of seniors with disabling conditions, the Medicare system is expected continue to reduce services due to economic conditions and budgetary constraints. Additionally, the rate of demand for professional health care and direct-care workers is expected to dramatically outpace supply over the next decade. Consequently, community-based care of seniorswith disabilities will be more and more in the hands of the individuals themselves and their family caregivers receiving limited guidance from professional care organizations. One of the biggest issues that face home care agencies is the lack of consistency in care giving caused by inexperienced or changing caregivers and the high cost of home visits to monitor health plan compliance. The result of these inadequacies is that all too often many seniors with disabilities are prematurely moved to more restrictive, expensive and institutional living environments that would not be necessary if home health care was provided in a more consistent manner with predictable quality. One approach to help avoid premature removal from community living arrangements is to use new technologies to help improve self-directed personal health care compliance along with remote health monitoring tools for professional caregivers to enable seniors to age in place while maximizing quality of care for seniors with disabilities. Therefore, in this project we will build on the successful results of Phase I to develop HealthCare Manager, a personal healthcare support system using powerful mobile computer devices to make it easier for seniors to perform personal health care activities, such as knowing when and how to take medications or comply with therapy routines, and to track health care actions that have been completed. This innovative approach will help enable elderly individuals to age in place, maximize the consistency and quality of self-care, and avoid premature relocation to institutional settings. This approach uses new technologies to help seniors engage in self-directed personal health care while also employing remote health monitoring tools for caregivers and health professionals. A prototype system was developed in Phase I and tested for usability with 32 seniors by AbleLink's project partner, the University of Colorado's Gerontology Center. The results provided strong preliminary support demonstrating the utility and usability of the HCA system. For example, when using the HCA technology seniors performed a novel task at a 99.1 percent accuracy rate, with no prior knowledge of how to complete the specific health care task. Additionally, seniors using the HCA system were able to respond to the time-based reminders to perform a specific health care task 100 percent of the time, even with the mild distraction of watching a nature film during the testing period. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The objectives of this project areto research, design and develop HealthCare Manager (HCM), a software system for improving consistency and quality of implementing home health care regimens for seniors living in their own homes. This relates to the mission of NIH by providing a support tool that will enable seniors to perform personal health care tasks more consistently and accurately, thus promoting individual health and quality of life."
Development and Evaluation of an Independently Usable Interface to Facebook for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.,H133S110021,ED,ED,SBIR,2011,1,75000.00,"AbleLink Technologies, Inc.",618 N. Nevada Ave,,Colorado Springs,CO,80903-1006,No,No,Yes,,,,,Daniel K. Davies,,(719) 592-0347,dan@ablelinktech.com,"This project develops and evaluates a software interface into the social media website Facebook that is independently usable by individuals with intellectual disabilities, including those with limited or no literacy skills. The software system provides a multimedia (e.g., voice recording, icons, text-to-speech) interface, a customizable filtering tool to limit screen features, and computer-generated prompts to guide the user using Facebook’s Software Development Kit and open development opportunities. A feasibility study is conducted to determine if the simplified multimedia interface approach can significantly increase independent access to the most commonly used Facebook features for students and adults with intellectual disabilities."
Schedule Manager: A Remote Schedule Management and Monitoring System to Support Personal Scheduling by Individuals with Intellectual and Cognitive Disabilities,H133S110026,ED,ED,SBIR,2011,1,75000.00,"AbleLink Technologies, Inc.",618 N. Nevada Ave,,Colorado Springs,CO,80903-1006,No,No,Yes,,,,,Daniel K. Davies,,(719) 592-0347,dan@ablelinktech.com,"This project develops and tests the utility of Schedule Manager, a remote schedule management and monitoring prototype designed to use mobile technology to enable real-time, “on-the-fly” changes to an individual’s schedule from remote locations and to monitor adherence to scheduled activities by individuals with intellectual and cognitive disabilities. Difficulty with time management is one of the most significant barriers that exist for individuals with intellectual and cognitive disabilities, particularly in situations where there is a need to dynamically change the individual’s personal schedule, such as a changed doctor’s appointment or work schedule. Current systems have several limitations including having to be preprogrammed by a caregiver and the lack of remote access to update the individual’s schedule. This system is developed as an application that can be made available on Apple iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) as well as Android mobile devices. The project culminates in a within-subjects pilot study to test the efficacy of the approach for enabling independent and timely responses to real-time schedule changes as compared to traditional methods of updating schedules."
Visual Impact: A Cloud-Based Activity Support System to Facilitate Independence for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities,H133S110040,ED,ED,SBIR,2011,1,75000.00,"AbleLink Technologies, Inc.",618 N. Nevada Ave,,Colorado Springs,CO,80903-1006,No,No,Yes,,,,,Daniel K. Davies,,(719) 592-0347,dan@ablelinktech.com,"This project develops an Internet-based system for managing and delivering “on demand” activity prompts to individuals with intellectual disabilities. This product users “cloud” (web based) technology to deliver visual and audio prompts to individuals with cognitive disabilities via a thin-client prompting application that can run on iOS or Android mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and Droid smartphones. This technology enables step-by-step task prompting to be made available to individuals using a consistent interface in any environment. In Phase I, a prototype application is developed and a pilot study conducted to assess the technical merit and feasibility of this approach for facilitating independence. These technologies offer tremendous opportunities for increasing independence of individuals with intellectual disabilities through provision of personalized, real-time activity supports in a multitude of settings, including at school, in the workplace, at home, and in the community."
Ultra-Compact MRI: A new cost-effective tool optimized for developmental biology,1R43RR032603-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,317293.00,"ABQMR, INC.","2301 YALE BLVD SE, STE C-2",,ALBUQUERQUE,NM,87106-4352,No,No,No,Patti Beers,,505-244-0017,patti@nmr.org,Andrew F. Mcdowell,,505-244-0017,mcdowell@abqmr.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Research using Xenopus (frog) embryos, a model system of major importance in many areas of biomedicine, is hampered in a fundamental way by their opacity. No device for non-destructively imaging the interiors of these specimens is generally available. The long-term goal at ABQMR, Inc. is to utilize unique capabilities in the field of miniaturized NMR and MRI instrumentation to develop new devices to overcome such problems in biomedical research and other fields. The objective for this application is a mature Ultra- Compact MRI (UC-MRI) prototype, ready for deployment in research labs, optimized in size, cost, and complexity to match the constraints of Xenopus embryology research. Preliminary experiments on phantoms, oocytes, and fixed embryos show that images at the necessary spatial and temporal resolutions are within reach of the current generation of miniaturized hardware. The central hypothesis driving this effort is that a fully miniaturized UC-MRI device can be constructed and operated in the biology research laboratory to produce images of live embryos of sufficient quality to answer important questions in Xenopus research. The rationale for this work is that the availability of a Xenopus-optimized UC-MRI device willdramatically increase the access to non-destructive MRI technology, improving data quality and enabling new types of research experiments utilizing Xenopus in a wide range of biomedical fields. The project has three staged specific aims. First, build a next generation UC-MRI prototype that meets the needs of Xenopus embryology research. Preliminary work indicates the required basic improvements: increased magnetic field gradient strength, lower temperature operation at 15: C and enhanced tissue contrast via selective fatty tissue excitation. Second, demonstrate that the UC-MRI can acquire research-quality Xenopus embryo images. Working in the RandD lab with slow growing late-stage embryos, the operating protocol of the Xenopus-optimized UC-MRI will be adjusted to provide images of sufficient quality to allow reproduction of published research analyses. Third, demonstrate the acquisition of research-quality images in a research setting. Images of fast growing early- stage embryos will be acquired by developmental biologists in their own lab. Given that existing prototypes are very small, rugged, and of modest cost, the accomplishment of these aims will show that this new, technically innovative miniaturization of MRI technology is fully capable of research-quality imaging in the hands of typical researchers. The ultimate product, a highly miniaturized UC-MRI device optimized in all respects for use in Developmental Biology, is significant because it establishes universal access to MRI instrumentation, instrumentation that overcomes the essential limitation imposed by opacity, yielding new and better data in Xenopus embryo research, and positively impacting many of the biomedical research areas funded by the NIH. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed research is relevant to public health because it develops an important, currently missing tool for Xenopus embryology research, non-destructive imaging, which will further enhance the utility of this organism for addressing the fundamental biology of human disease. The project is relevant to the mission of the NCRR because it will establish a new resource for research, the Ultra-Compact MRI, which will allow scientists to advance their understanding of a wide range of diseases."
Improved Hypoglycemia Rescue Device,2R44DK085809-02,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,994123.00,"XERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.",3208 Red River Street,Suite 300,Austin,TX,78705-,No,No,No,John Kinxell,,415-472-4623,JKINZELL@XERISPHARMA.COM,John Kinzell,,415-472-4623,jkinzell@xerispharma.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this project is to demonstrate the safety, pharmacokinetics and initial efficacy of a ready-to-use Glucagon Rescue Pen that will deliver a very low volume dose of a glucagon without reconstitution for hypoglycemic emergencies. To execute on this objective, it is necessary to first finalize the concentrated non-aqueous glucagon solution developed in the Phase 1 program and thereafter, manufacture cGMP clinical supplies of the glucagon pen for the Phase 1-2 trial. The final phase in this program will be to conduct a Phase 1-2 clinical trial that will study the safety, pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy of the Glucagon Rescue Pen. If successful, these experiments will demonstrate the safety and initial effectiveness of a simple, portable, glucagon delivery system to support an NDA-enabling Phase 3 (bioequivalency) study. The first Specific Aim of this proposed project is to optimize the non-aqueous glucagon formulation and produce cGMP clinical supplies in a pre-filled auto-injection pen. The second Specific Aim is to file IND documentation and get FDA approval for a Phase 1-2 clinical plan. The Third Specific Aim will be to conduct a Phase 1-2 clinical trial with the Glucagon Rescue Pen. Success Benchmarks will include: 1) rapid identification of non-aqueous glucagon formulation; 2) manufacture of GMP clinical supplies of the autoinjector pen that can proceed into long and accelerated stability testing and release for use in the clinical trial; 3) Fullenrollment of the Phase 1-2 clinical study that demonstrates the product's safety; pharmacokinetic profile (plasma glucagon levels) and a pharmacodynamic profile (blood glucose levels) that are equivalent to an aqueous-reconstituted glucagon. Meeting thesebenchmarks will justify advancing the product into an NDA-enabling bioequivalency study. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The current standard of care for hypoglycemic emergencies?the Glucagon Emergency Kit requires a diabetic's caregiver to reconstitutethe peptide powder contained in a vial using a 1 mL prefilled syringe and to assure complete solubilization prior to injection. A patient friendly, ready---to---use auto---injector Glucagon Pen will reduce caregiver and patient fear and risk, costs of 911calls and emergency room visits."
100 Gb/s Pattern Generator and Comparator,DE-FG02-10ER85734,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,2,999928.00,"Acadia Optronics, Llc",1395 Piccard Drive,Suite 210,Rockville,MD,20850-4348,No,No,No,Edward Hagley,Dr.,2407311300,edwardhagley@acadiaoptronics.com,Edward Hagley,Dr.,2407311300,edwardhagley@acadiaoptronics.com,"Network operators are facing sustained bandwidth demands from users and applications in the scientific computing and commercial communities. Hence many are actively migrating to faster 40/100 Gb/s technologies to support large scale transfers. Here the provision of advanced network testing/monitoring capabilities is vital for rapid and effective deployment of these new technologies. However, current 40/100 Gb/s testing systems feature bulky footprints and extremely high cost, and therefore pose a serious impediment for the rapid deployment and maintenance of next-generation networks. We propose to address these critical concerns by developing a compact, low-cost 40/100 Gb/s testing module that leverages commercial off-the-shelf hardware and provides full integration with existing network monitoring software. This solution will allow operators to greatly-increase their testing footprints and accelerate migration to faster link rates. It will also provide users with detailed real-time monitoring/diagnostic capabilities for their end-to-end data transfersa major improvement over current technologies. In the Phase I effort we conducted a thorough analysis to determine the feasibility of the planned approach. This work consisted of three primary objectives: 1) clearly defining the system requirements; 2) producing a comprehensive architecture design with full module specifications; and 3) developing a basic working prototype. This effort also conducted detailed investigations on integrating the proposed system with existing network monitoring frameworks used in the scientific community. In Phase II we will transition the Phase I feasibility study and preliminary hardware prototype into a complete system ready for commercialization. Here the initial baseline specification produced in Phase I will be significantly expanded with new capabilities and interfaces. Next, this framework will be integrated with higher-level monitoring systems to demonstrate comprehensive end-to-end test monitoring capabilities. Finally we will develop and analyze various testcase scenarios to demonstrate the final product and quantify its overall performance and cost-effectiveness. Overall, the envisioned solution will greatly benefit operators and users in the scientific and commercial communities via the provision of a compact, cost-effective 40/100 Gb/s network testing module that seamlessly interfaces with existing monitoring software. Hence operators will be able accelerate the deployment of their next-generation infrastructures and significantly improve user service support for massive bulk transfers."
Development of Estrogen Receptor B Selective Receptor Agonists to Treat Neuropath,1U44NS070336-01A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,600000.00,"ACADIA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.",3911 SORRENTO VALLEY BLVD,,SAN DIEGO,CA,92122-1402,No,No,No,Ethan Burstein,,858-320-8623,eburstein@acadia-pharm.com,Ethan S. Burstein,,858-558-2871,eburstein@acadia-pharm.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Neuropathic pain is a serious neurological disorder affecting approximately 1.8 million people in the United States. It is refractory to standard analgesic therapies, with all current neuropathic pain drugs providing relief to approximately 30% of patients. In addition, these drugs all have significant side effects. Consequently there is a clear unmet medical need for new safe and effective drugs to treat this serious and growing disorder. Acadia Pharmaceuticals has discovered highly selective estrogen receptor beta (ER )-agonists that are highly efficacious in animal models of neuropathic pain. Because of their high selectivity for ER , they do not produce the feminizing side effects attributed to estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) activation and display many desirable attributes for a drug candidate: no apparent cardiovascular liability or mutagenicity risks, and little or no potential for drug-drug interactions. No apparent side effects were seen in rats receiving doses 10x above maximally effective doses. These compounds have good metabolic stability in human liver, suggesting oral dosing in humans is feasible. Further, their bioavailability in rats is high (gt70%) when the compounds are given sublingually. Thus we believewe have several opportunities to develop these compounds as analgesic drugs. In this U44 Translational Research grant we will develop ER agonists as clinical candidates for treating neuropathic pain. In Phase 1, we will take leads, and determine their metabolic profiles in hepatocytes, their in vivo PK characteristics, and their permeability properties across buccal, epidermal, and intestinal (Caco2) cells. The metabolism and PK studies will allow us to predict the bioavailability in humans, and feasibility of oral dosing, while the permeability studies will provide data on the feasibility of buccal/sublingual and transdermal dosing. We will also complete in vitro safety screens for genetic, cardiovascular, or drug-drug interaction liabilities in parallelto the PK studies. We will take the compound with the best overall profile and conduct preliminary in vivo rodent toxicology and cardiovascular safety studies before initiating FDA-compliant GLP studies in Phase 2 SBIR studies. Our goal is to identify 1 ER agonist that can be administered to humans orally, sublingually or transdermally and that has manageable, or ideally no toxicity, including a NOEL at plasma concentrations at least 10-fold above pharmacologically effective concentrations. In Phase 2, the lead compound will be subject to IND-enabling toxicology, cardiovascular and genetic toxicology studies to provide the necessary supporting data for an IND submission. These studies will require GMP-grade material and will include in vitro and in vivo studies for genetic toxicity (Ames assay, chromosomal aberration assay, rat micronucleus), cardiovascular toxicity (hERG channel inhibition, cardiovascular monitoring in conscious, telemetered dogs or monkeys) and repeat dose toxicity studies for 28 days inrodent and non-rodent models. We will then schedule a pre-IND meeting with FDA to discuss the overall development pathway and understand key regulatory issues that may need to be addressed during the clinical program. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Acadia Pharmaceuticals is devoted to the development of novel, safe and efficacious drugs to treat neurological disorders and in this grant we propose to develop drugs targeting estrogen receptor B (ER ) to treat neuropathic pain, a serious neurological disorder that is generally not treated effectively by available medications. We have identified highly selective ER selective agonists and have conducted extensive preclinical testing with these prototypical drugs and found they were highly effective in a numberof animal models of neuropathic pain and they had many desirable pharmaceutical properties with no apparent side effects in rodents. Our goal in this grant is to optimize our ER agonists and conduct standard IND enabling studies including toxicology to be able to begin clinical development of our ER selective agonists for treating neuropathic pain."
Textured-Powder Jelly-Roll Process for High-Performance Bi-2212/Ag Wire,DE-FG02-11ER90166,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,Accelerator Technology Corporation,9701 Valley View Dr.,,College Station,TX,77845-7158,No,No,No,Peter Mc Intyre,Dr.,979-255-5531,acctec@suddenlink.net,Kyle Damborsky,Mr.,979-255-5531,acctec@suddenlink.net,"Superconducting wire is used in electromagnets that are used in energy research particle accelerators, fusion tokomaks and in biomedical research - NMR imaging and spectroscopy. New frontiers in those areas of research require ever higher magnetic field strength, and that requires ever-more robust superconductors. Bi-2212 is the only one of the high-temperature superconductors that can be made in round wire. Improving its performance is of considerable importance for research in those fields. Performance is limited by two properties of the superconducting cores within the wire: too much porosity and the too little connectivity. ATC is developing a new way of making high-performance superconducting wire using the high-temperature superconductor Bi-2212. The method uses a roll-processing technique to orient the grains of the material so that they all lie in the direction in which current will flow in the wire. This favorable orientation is preserved in the final wire-drawing by making a jellyroll composite of the superconducting layers in silver foil. This jelly-roll method improves the porosity and connectivity in the wire, and has reasonable prospects to yield significant improvement in wire performance. The jelly-roll wire is made using a machine that is used in the pharmaceutical industry to roll compact powders of drugs to do the same thing for the superconducting powder. As the powder is roll-compacted its flake-like particles naturally orient so that their flat faces are parallel. The collaboration of Accelerator Technology Corp. and Texas A & amp;M University will use this approach to make continuous ribbons of the superconducting powder. The ribbons will be jacketed in a silver sheath and further compacted to form the jelly-roll round wire. In the proposed Phase 1 effort the team will commission the processing machinery and use it to make test coupons of the superconducting tape. The tape will be heat-treated to link all of the superconducting grains within the wire. The team will do a process development in which the parameters of that heat treatment are optimized to give the best possible performance. The jelly-roll superconducting wire is being developed to give higher current density for the magnets needed for high-energy accelerators and for spectrometers for biomedicine. The same process should work for the higher-temperature superconductor Bi-2223, which has important applications for high-efficiency electric motors and generators for electric power transmission, wind turbines, energy storage, and all-electric cars. Indeed Toyota is today developing a superconducting motor for its model of all-electric car. That motor utilizes Bi-2223. The textured jelly-roll method has the potential to provide major benefit for those applications"
Accelerating HPC Applications through Specialized Linear Algebra Clouds,NNX11CD41P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,ACCELOGIC LLC,1633 Bonaventure Boulevard,,Weston,FL,33326-3684,No,No,No,Juan Gonzalez,Business Official,9548884711,juan.gonalez@accelogic.com,Juan Gonzalez,Principal Investigator,9548884711,juan.gonalez@accelogic.com,"Cloud computing has the potential to permit scientists to scale up to solve large science problems without having to invest in hardware and software infrastructure. Even though its use has become commonplace in the business realm, its use in HPC is still limited to a few applications. This project aims at developing, prototyping, validating, and commercializing the world's first cloud-enabled acceleration library of linear algebra solvers. Considering that linear algebra is the most common computational bottleneck in scientific software applications (more than 70% of HPC cycles), the resulting Specialized Linear Algebra Cloud technology will directly impact numerous applications, such as the design of aerospace and automotive vehicles, exploration for new oil & gas reserves, nuclear energy research, and the design of computer chips, among many others.The Phase I work will incorporate innovations for removing the bandwidth bottleneck in the outsource model of a Specialized Linear Algebra Cloud. We will also design a core platform able to support solver-as-a-service technology in HPC environments. The Phase I technology will be evaluated in three different scenarios: (A) Infrastructure Cloud outsourcing computations to Specialized Clouds, (B) Infrastructure Cloud making use of internal Specialized Clouds, and (C) End-users accelerating code through direct access to Specialized Clouds.
Accelogic's novel numerical libraries are expected toprovide next-generation speed/efficiency to existing cloud systems, with direct application to NASA programs, other government applications, and many valuable uses in academia and the private sector. The Phase I proof-of-concept work should advance the technology from TRL 2 to TRL 3, and we expectto reach TRL 5 during Phase II. A world-class combination of experts in algorithm design, computer networks, and numerical analysis pursue these development goals."
Extreme-Speed Eigensolver Suite,DE-FG02-11ER90005,DOE,DOE,SBIR,2011,1,150000.00,ACCELOGIC LLC,1633 Bonaventure Boulevard,,Weston,FL,33326-3684,No,No,No,Juan Gonzalez,Dr.,954-888-4711,juan.gonzalez@accelogic.com,Juan Gonzalez,Dr.,954-888-4711,juan.gonzalez@accelogic.com,"One of the most important linear algebra problems is that of finding the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of large-scale matrices. Methods for the solution of these problems, usually called eigensolvers, are fundamental to many applications in engineering and scienceranging from the most challenging computational chemistry problems in molecular design, to stability searches in structural design, to other modeling- and simulationintense disciplines that are at the core of DOEs scientific priorities, such as weather prediction, nuclear energy, nuclear weapon certification, and wind turbine design, among many others. Scientists working in these areas are always striving for increased computational performance. Modern hybrid supercomputing architectures (made of arbitrary combinations of CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, and possibly other types of cores) could provide the computational performance needed by large-scale eigensolvers, as has been done for linear equation solvers [Gonz09, Gonz10]. However, increasing performance in eigensolvers through hybrid computing architectures is, in general, harder to achieve than doing it for linear equation solvers. The reason: most eigenvalues software and numerical libraries scale inefficiently when targeted to a large number of processors due to (1) communication becoming a primary burden, and (2) this burden being aggravated when transitioning into heterogeneous high-speed architectures [HPCw10]. No industrial-quality scalable eigensolver numerical library exists today that can efficiently exploit heterogeneous concurrency of specialized cores (e.g., any combination of GPUs, FPGAs, Cell Processors, etc) to deliver breakthrough speedups for eigenvalue-centric computations. Accelogic proposes to deploy the worlds fastest eigensolver numerical library, equipped to exploit hybrid HPC systems made of arbitrary combinations of CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, and possibly other types of cores integrated in the same supercomputing network. We propose two major innovations to attack the above-mentioned hurdles by: (1) implementing communication-avoiding eigensolver algorithms; and (2) introducing innovative approaches to guarantee scaling based on talent-aware heterogeneous concurrency. Talent-aware heterogeneous concurrency exploits the abilities that different computing cores have to execute particular numerical tasks. For instance, a GPU is extremely fast for streamlined vector processing, but an FPGA has higher memory bandwidth when operating in its internal memory regime. Talent-aware heterogeneous concurrency considers these cores talents (i.e., capabilities) to optimally balance computing jobs, aiming at a nontrivial non-homogeneous partition of the computing jobs those results in overall reduction in time-to-solution. Accelogic has raised private sector matching funds tied to this SBIR project for an additional $500,000 such an investment is a testament to the strong commercialization potential of the proposed technology. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: This technology will have potentially large impact in industries such as structural design, chemistry, bioengineering, and computational physics, as well as in DOEs research programs in fusion energy, climate/weather modeling, nanoscale science, genomics, and study of nuclear matter, among many others."
A Rewards Program Contributing to Healthier Eating in Restaurants and Schools,1R43DP003848-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,152564.00,"ACCENTS ON HEALTH, INC.","ACCENTS ON HEALTH, INC.",8765 Aero Dr Ste 300,SAN DIEGO,CA,92123-,Yes,No,No,Esther Hill,,805-693-1100,anita@healthydiningfinder.com,Esther P. Hill,,858-541-2049,esther@healthy-dining.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This research will develop, implement and evaluate a restaurant-based incentive program that promotes and rewards healthy eating behaviors in restaurants and at the same time, provides funding to schools to support fitness and healthier lunch programs. This project will make an important contribution to the prevention and control of obesity and other nutrition-related diseases in both children and adults. It represents the first study ever to explore the use of incentives to schools as a vehicle for increasing healthful behaviors of children and families. This proposal builds upon previous SBIR grants awarded to the applicant company, HEALTHY DINING, funded by both the CDC and NIH. The goals of the REWARDS PROGRAM include: 1) conducting a pilot study with three to five regional schools and three to five restaurant chains located in Santa Barbara, California (Phase I), 2) expanding the REWARDS PROGRAM to schools and restaurants throughout California and three additional states (Phase II) and ultimately 3) developing strategies to expand the PROGRAM nationwide (Phase III). A tasting extravaganza kick-off event will launch the program to stakeholders (principals, administrators, teachers, etc.). School leaders will be tappedto promote the REWARDS PROGRAM to both children and parents through the schools' communication channels. Long term implementation of this REWARDS PROGRAM nationwide will result in significant funding being generated to help support school fitness and healthier lunch programs. Additionally, this proposal has the potential to significantly improve the health of our nation's families, as it will incentivize the availability and selection of healthier choices at restaurants. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Byincentivizing local restaurants to offer and promote healthy kids' options and schools to promote these options to kids and families, this project will spur the availability and selection of healthier kids' menu options in restaurants. A related benefit isthat funds will be donated to schools for healthy eating and fitness programs when the healthier kids' selections are purchased. As a result, children will be selecting menu items that are lower in calories, fat, saturated fat and sodium, leading to reduced risks of such nutrition-related conditions as obesity, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes."
"Developing a Light Weight, Durable, User Adjustable Composite Backrest - Phase 2",2R44HD056705-02A1,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,2,789888.00,"ACCESSIBLE DESIGNS, INC.","401 ISOM RD, STE 520",,SAN ANTONIO,TX,-,No,No,No,Todd Hargroder,,210-341-0008,todd@adirides.com,Todd Hargroder,,210-341-0008,todd@adirides.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Postural deformity is common among wheelchair users due to the tendency of the spine to flex under the influence of gravity. For individuals with paralysis of the trunk muscles, these postural deformities can occur quickly after injury and can reduce function and lead to painful fixed deformities. To delay the onset of these deformities, it is imperative that wheelchair seating be designed and prescribed which provides the necessary support to counteract gravity, but does not overly-restrict the users' ability to move their trunk so they can accomplish their daily activities. While sophisticated seating and position products for electric power wheelchair are on the market, advances for manual wheelchairs seating have focused on pressure relieving cushions. Rigid backrests are being marketed which replace the traditional sling designs are being marketed, and users' report an increased comfort over sling systems, but they have drawbacks which have limited their market penetration. The three primary drawbacks are (1) the increased weight of the rigid backrests over the sling systems, (2) discomfort when the user wants to perform non-mobility tasks, like dressing or relaxing (leaning back) , and (3) the inability to use the rigid shells on a folding-frame wheelchair. If these design shortcomings were mitigated, market penetration would increase substantially. We developed a Light-weight, Durable, Adjustable backrest (LWDAC) which addresses shortcomings (1) and (2) and was verywell received by focus groups subjects. In this Phase II project, we will refine the LWDAC based on subjects' feedback, and introduce a quick-release mechanism to address shortcoming (3), which has already been developed for our other backrest system. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Despite the increased comfort and postural support that rigid wheelchair backrests provide, some users reject them because they restrict function during non-mobility tasks, like dressing or relaxing. To address these shortcomings,we have developed a Lightweight, Durable, Adjustable, Composite backrest system which allows the user to independently and easily adjust their backrest for all tasks."
COLLADA Computing for Geophysical Applications,NNX11CF12P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,98744.00,"WxAnalyst, LTD","4458 Oakdale Crescent Court, #1226",,Fairfax,VA,22030-6797,No,No,No,Scott Shipley,Business Official,5713096024,sshipley@wxanalyst.com,Scott T. Shipley,Principal Investigator,5713096024,sshipley@wxanalyst.com,"The COLLADATM open industry XML standard for 3D Graphics Exchange is applied for representation, combination and analysis of geophysical information from disparate sources in 4-Dimensions. COLLADA Computing provides a common linear framework for representing and associating COLLADA spatial-temporal objects from the atmospheric, oceanic, space and geologic domains. Once translated into COLLADA objects, disparate data can be combined and utilized to create cross-domain products regardless of the original coordinate system or data geometry, and can be viewed with any Virtual Globe that supports the COLLADA industry standard. COLLADA Computing algorithms will be developed in the JAVA language to support mathematical and topological operations on these COLLADA spatial objects on multiple compute platforms and operating systems. Linear approximations are applied within spatial tolerance limits for geometric position to enhance compute edfficiency. Using primarily the Affine Transformation, COLLADA Computing on extracts of very large datasets may be sufficient to create many derived products for initial review and analysis. The Phase 1 COLLADA Computing prototype will be demonstrated using Google Earth. Compatibility is also anticipated with the NASA World Wind JAVA SDK when an open source COLLADA geometry engine is added to that capability."
Image Feature Extraction for Improved EW Classification,N00014-11-M-0298,DOD,NAVY,STTR,2011,1,79994.00,"3 Phoenix, Inc.",14585 Avion Pwy,Suite 200,Chantilly,VA,-,No,No,No,Linda Leonard,Director of Contracts,(703) 956-6480,Linda.Leonard@3Phoenix.net,Bob Smarrelli,Director Business Develop,(703) 956-6480,Bob.Smarrelli@3phoenix.net,"The team of 3 Phoenix, Inc and George Mason Univserity propose to develop and evaluate innovative algorithms for a multi-modal adaptive data fusion system applicable for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking (ISRT) in general environments. In particular the algorithm will be designed for automatic target recognition in high density littoral environments. The approach presented in this proposal represents the potential to reduce operator load and allow for constant updating of algorithm performance. We anticipate that the results of this effort will demonstrate the feasibility of the algorithms and the path to implementation."
Adaptive Data Fusion for Real-time Threat Assessment,N00167-11-P-0148,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79994.00,"3 Phoenix, Inc.",14585 Avion Pwy,Suite 200,Chantilly,VA,-,No,No,No,Linda Leonard,Contracts Manager,(703) 956-6480,linda.leonard@3phoenix.net,Bob Smarrelli,Business Director,(703) 956-6480,bob.smarrelli@3phoenix.net,"We propose a principled data fusion framework that is appropriate for an adaptive classifier implemented with supervised and multi-task learning. The detection and data fusion (DDF) engine will map the results of advanced feature extraction algorithms (weighted multi-dimensional feature vectors) onto a nonlinear vector space which will increase separation and improve Pcc. We will investigate several different metrics of the utility of data fusion in addressing strategic and tactical courses of action. In addition, we will develop new techniques for feature adaptation and selection based upon current operational scenarios within the battle space."
Intelligent Proxies for Automated Mission Planning,N68335-11-C-0315,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79994.00,"3 Phoenix, Inc.",14585 Avion Pwy,Suite 200,Chantilly,VA,-,No,No,No,Linda Leonard,Director of Contracts,(703) 956-6480,linda.leonard@3phoenix.net,Bob Smarrelli,Director of Business Deve,(703) 956-6480,bob.smarrelli@3phoenix.net,"3 Phoenix, Inc (3Pi) and Monterey Technologies, Inc. (MTI) propose an innovative Automated Mission Planning System (AMPS), which combines the development of an intuitive Operator-Machine Interface (OMI) and an adaptive data fusion algorithm operating under a web based Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). The AMPS is based on the creation and continual update of a fusion database that can be utilized by the Mission Planner through the OMI. The technique will be to combine the richly varying information available from diverse sources such as target location, target imagery, METOC data, terrain information, available weapons and platform capabilities and even other intel sources to create inputs to the adaptive data fusion engine. The fusion engine will update and maintain the fusion database, which is essentially a geospatial representation of all that is known about the mission requirements and mission parameters."
Engineering Sensors for Towed Array Reliability,N00014-11-M-0209,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,80000.00,"3 Phoenix, Inc.",14585 Avion Pwy,Suite 200,Chantilly,VA,-,No,No,No,Linda Leonard,Director of Contracts,(703) 956-6480,Linda.Leonard@3phoenix.net,Bob Smarrelli,Director of Business Deve,(703) 956-6480,Bob.Smarrelli@3phoenix.net,"Submarine thin-line Towed Arrays are subjected to extreme forces during deployment and retrieval in addition to tactical operations. These forces are generally significantly different in nature. In the past it has been especially difficult to monitor and characterize the stress imparted on the array during the deployment and retrieval cycles. To significantly improve Towed Array availability an objective systems engineering process must be implemented to analyze these events and develop a solution. The goal of the systems engineering team is to generate an open systems architecture that will enable the monitoring of towed array health during all modes of operation including the handling cycles. The evolution of modern network technology has enabled state of the art telemetry systems such as 3 Phoenix""s iPON Telemetry, to perform sophisticated real time Performance Monitoring and Fault Localization (PMFL). These tasks are executed on a continuous basis transporting data from specifically designed engineering sensors to support the adaptive reconfiguration of the telemetry system in the event of failures enabling localization of the failures within the array. The focus of this topic is to develop an engineering sensor capability for thin-line submarine towed arrays that will provide objective information that can be utilized in real-time in conjunction with the telemetry network and its associated control processor. The demonstration system proposed in this Phase I will provide the capability to monitor the health of the towed array handling system as well as the health of the towed array data network during all modes of operation. 3 Phoenix, Inc. (3Pi) will build upon existing SBIR and STTR developments to further enhance the PMFL capabilities of thinline towed array systems."
Distributed Sensor System Innovations - CPP,N00014-11-C-0211,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,4469017.00,"3 Phoenix, Inc.",14585 Avion Pwy,Suite 200,Chantilly,VA,-,No,No,No,Linda Leonard,Director of Contracts,(703) 956-6480,linda.leonard@3phoenix.net,John Jamieson,Chief Engineer,(919) 562-5333,john.jamieson@3phoenix.net,"The objectives for this Phase II effort follow logically from the Phase I proposal and the ground work laid in Phase I. The overarching goal is to prove a radically different approach to sensor packaging which offers a quantum leap in performance, cost reduction and manufacturability improvement. Preliminary testing results from Phase I indicate that the alternative technical approach to telemetry packaging and construction is feasible. In this Phase II we propose to adapt the iPON/iPEN telemetry form factor to implement a thin-line Vector Sensor Towed Array (VSTA). Specific objectives include the development of thin-line vector sensor acoustic and non-acoustic nodes and the development, integration, and initial testing of a 1X VSTA."
Increased Submarine RF Capacity for Sensors and Surveillance,N00024-11-C-4160,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,3799969.00,"3 Phoenix, Inc.",14585 Avion Pwy,Suite 200,Chantilly,VA,-,No,No,No,Linda Leonard,Director of Contracts,(703) 956-6480,linda.leonard@3phoenix.net,Mike Dickerson,Principal Investigator,(410) 712-0471,mike.dickerson@3phoenix.net,"3 Phoenix, Inc. (3Pi) plans to continue development of a field-deployable RF over Fiber (RFoF) distribution system that consists of both high-frequency RF optical channels and bi-directional digital channels providing telemetry and data-fusion capability. The development will be focused on the implementation of a high-capacity, high frequency capability necessary for the Navy""s radar and communications applications. In addition, 3Pi plans to implement size, weight and power reduction measures in order to advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the prototype system developed for RFoF."
"Low Cost, Reliable Towed Sensors Handling Systems",N00024-11-C-4180,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,339669.00,"3 Phoenix, Inc.",14585 Avion Pwy,Suite 200,Chantilly,VA,-,No,No,No,Linda Leonard,Director of Contracts,(703) 956-6480,linda.leonard@3phoenix.net,Lino Verna,Techncial Director - Mech,(919) 562-5333,lino.verna@3phoenix.net,"The current generation of towed array handling systems suffers from additional problems including complexity, difficulty of service and repair, introduction of acoustic noise into the ocean environment, limitations in current control systems, and damage from the harsh marine environment in which these systems are required to operate. Furthermore, the""form factor""of the winch-based systems requires significant space and limits location options with the submarine. In the Phase I SBIR, N101-043""Low Cost, Reliable Towed Sensors Handling Systems""3 Phoenix (3Pi) proposed a novel approach to array handling systems based on a totally different design for retrieving, deploying, storing and managing submarine towed array systems. The Handling and Storage System (HSS) is based on the principles of a simple machine, the""block and tackle""system. This non-traditional system dramatically lowers the mechanical stresses on the towed array while providing great flexibility in control and drive systems. Additionally, this concept is very amenable to various installation locations on the submarine."
Improved Torpedo Defense,N00024-11-C-4190,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,749975.00,"3 Phoenix, Inc.",14585 Avion Pwy,Suite 200,Chantilly,VA,-,No,No,No,Linda Leonard,Director of Contracts,(703) 956-6480,Linda.Leonard@3phoenix.net,Russ Jeffers,Principal,(703) 956-6480,russ.jeffers@3phoenix.net,"The SBIR research has demonstrated feasibility of exploiting advanced statistical signal processing algorithms for automated classification and resolution of torpedo salvos. The Phase I research identified candidate methods and algorithms that may be used as a system to enhance salvo detection and classification. The algorithms from Phase I will be implemented as a testbed during Phase II to investigate the performance at the system level. The Phase II objective is an implementation of the design as a system. Key parameters will be tested in the lab or during a sea test if possible. The objective of the Phase II is to improve salvo resolution in endfire by investigating multi-path resolution, spectral analysis methods for extracting and resolving closely spaced narrowband acoustic signatures, and multi-mode and multi-sensor data fusion allowing for decluttering of the surface picture by taking advantage of the distributed array under development by the TWS program."
Technologies for Reduced Source Level Sonar Systems,N00024-11-C-4183,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,749991.00,"3 Phoenix, Inc.",14585 Avion Pwy,Suite 200,Chantilly,VA,-,No,No,No,Linda Leonard,Director of Contracts,(703) 956-6480,Linda.Leonard@3phoenix.net,Bruce Gallemore,Principal,(703) 956-6480,bruce.gallemore@3phoenix.net,"The overarching objective of our proposal is to demonstrate that the Navy can achieve significant improvement in torpedo detection, within the relatively stringent operational and cost constraints of planned SSTD systems, by applying innovative active sonar technology. Phase I tasks concentrated on definition of the innovative system concept and enabling technologies, and analysis of the feasibility of proposed improvements. Phase II will concentrate on development of a prototype system for CAS demonstration and analysis of resulting data."
Anti-Tamper Technologies for Missile Defense,HQ0147-11-C-7501,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99948.00,"ACCORD SOLUTIONS, INC.",3533 Albatross Street,,San Diego,CA,-,No,No,No,Christine M. Murphy,President,(619) 692-9476,cmm@accordsol.com,Carl G. Murphy,Vice President,(619) 692-9476,carl.murphy@accordsol.com,"FPGA devices provide a secure environment for execution of critical technology only if the configuration bitmap is kept from attackers. Side Channel Attacks (SCAs) may extract keys during AES-protected bitmap loading -- a serious problem for many anti-tamper system solutions. Accord proposes an SCA immune soft-processor as the crucial missing piece for providing tamper resistance during FPGA bitmap loading. Accord's CRIPTC processor inherently has a very high level of resistance to SCAs. In the proposed effort, Accord will analyze and benchmark test the CRIPTC Architecture""s SCA resistance. Using these results Accord will design specialized modifications to the architecture to increase its baseline resistance. In Phase I, Accord will implement selected changes and show initial benefits compared to the basic design. Comparison is also made with the FPGA manufacturer""s standard soft-core processor. A target scenario, protection for loading an FPGA with CPI content, will be the example case study. The Phase II design will produce a revised soft-core (SCAR-CRIPTC) to execute AES without detectable physical leaks, which Accord will demonstrate, benchmark and evaluate the SCA protection level."
Intelligent Proxies for Automated Mission Planning,N68335-11-C-0314,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79987.00,"3 Sigma Research, Inc.",503 S. River Oaks Dr.,,Indialantic,FL,-,No,No,No,Michael WInburn,President,(321) 674-9267,mwinburn@3sigmaResearch.com,Aaron Wheeler,Senior Research Scientist,(321) 674-9267,awheeler@3sigmaResearch.com,"An individual ATO may become very large and complex because of the scope of a mission. The scale of information significantly challenges mission planners to ensure the availability of necessary equipment, configurations, and personnel at locations within reach of the mission target. Optimal flight route and re-planning requires finding time-sensitive routes from sortie base locations to targets that avoid restricted airspaces and account for continually changing weather and threat positions. 3 Sigma Research develops a novel solution called the Semantic Air Tasking Order Reasoner (SATOR) to organize and search for mission information for individual for Air Tasking Orders (ATO). The benefits of our unique solution include 1) human-like reasoning to find aircraft, configurations, personnel, and other resources required by the ATO, 2) optimal flight route planning for mission sorties, and 3) real time alerts to notify mission planners and pilots."
Datagram Segregation Open Systems Service Approach,N00024-11-C-4158,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,299988.00,"3 Sigma Research, Inc.",503 S. River Oaks Dr.,,Indialantic,FL,-,No,No,No,Michael WInburn,President,(321) 674-9267,mwinburn@3sigmaResearch.com,James Dike,Senior Principal Engineer,(321) 674-9267,jdike@3sigmaResearch.com,"The Packaged Ontology Certificate Real Time Model (PONC-RTM) Investigation of Phase I developed the concept for extending an enterprise information architecture to make use of PONCs integrated at the datagram level to automate the validation, routing, and control of information that is at the correct and validated security level, appropriate (need to know) for the receiver, and relevant to the group/organization. The innovative approach combines the power of ontology-based reasoning components in a service-oriented architecture that automates the process of making intelligent decisions with regard to security restrictions, purpose, and context of datagram delivery. In Phase II effort, focus is on the development of the prototype elements of the PONC-RTM; a SOA-compatible PONC RTM service, and a local PONC-RTM service adaptor used by HLA federate applications. Although the elements support HLA and DIS, they would be protocol independent, allowing for use beyond HLA based environments. The instantiation of the PONC-RTM service adaptor in Federate Applications brings awareness of the context of the source, destination, and content, characteristics through validation of a subset of ontology relevant to scenario participants."
CNT Based Microstrip Plasma Limiter,HQ0147-11-C-7651,DOD,MDA,STTR,2011,1,99967.00,Accurate Automation Corporation,7001 Shallowford Road,,Chattanooga,TN,37421-1716,No,No,No,Roger D. Bailey,CFO,(423) 894-4646,rogerdalebailey@netzero.net,Peter Krueger,Principal Investigator,(423) 894-4646,pkrueger@accurate-automation.com,Accurate Automation Corporation will develop a carbon nanotube based microstrip plasma limiter suitable for inclusion on RF printed circuit boards used on the front-end of an X-Band phased-array receiver. This device will capitalize on the ability to use carbon nanotubes to reduce the size and cost of an RF limiter while dramatically increasing the performance. Specific attention will be focused on improving the performance of these devices for military applications to separate them from the commercial carbon nanotube based limiter products that will be available as a result of this development.
"Common-Control, Unmanned Vehicle Trainer",N68335-11-C-0355,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79999.00,Accurate Automation Corporation,7001 Shallowford Road,,Chattanooga,TN,37421-1716,No,No,No,Roger Bailey,CFO,(423) 894-4646,rogerdalebailey@netzero.net,Chadwick Cox,Principal Investigator,(423) 894-4646,ccox@accurate-automation.com,"Accurate Automation Corporation (AAC) will develop a low-cost trainer based on PC technology. The objective is to provide the U.S. Navy with the ability to readily train personnel to operate unmanned vehicle systems when high-cost training systems and actual control systems are in short supply. This trainer will incorporate 1) a reconfigurable Graphical User Interface (GUI) to simulate the target control station(s), 2) existing simulation tools to provide a realistic representation of the target vehicle, 3) common control and an open networking architecture to provide flexibility and to facilitate future growth, 4) a behavioral Artificial Intelligence (AI) engine, and 5) and video-conferencing tools to provide a good, low-cost training solution. During Phase I, we will plan the development of the system and work with the customer to prioritize our focus on particular features and capabilities. This plan will lead to the development of a prototype training system that covers the Tier 1-3 fixed-wing vehicles, using commercial-grade hardware and basic graphical representations, but with appropriately realistic underlying scenarios and simulations. The result will be that an operator who has been trained with AAC""s product will require substantially less training with high-cost trainers or the targeted real control stations."
Virtual Machine Technologies for Intelligence and Warfighting Applications,W15P7T-11-C-A616,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,66790.00,Accurate Automation Corporation,7001 Shallowford Road,,Chattanooga,TN,37421-1716,No,No,No,Roger Bailey,CFO,(423) 894-4646,rogerdalebailey@netzero.net,Chadwick Cox,Principal Investigator,(423) 894-4646,ccox@accurate-automation.com,"Accurate Automation Corporation (AAC) will deliver a Virtual Machine (VM) solution to the U.S. Army, leveraging the advantages of this technology to meet the unique needs of this information-centric, warfighting organization. AAC will consolidate an existing set of server applications, migrating the system to more practical hardware while maintaining all system functions. Advanced VM capabilities will be developed to enable hot swapping and traffic management under strict performance requirements. This technology will benefit the DCGS-A, JUMPS, and similar C4ISR-related programs."
Direct Optical Modulation of HVDC on an RF Transmission Line,W9113M-11-C-0046,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99986.00,Accurate Automation Corporation,7001 Shallowford Road,,Chattanooga,TN,37421-1716,No,No,No,Roger Bailey,CFO,(423) 894-4646,rogerdalebailey@netzero.net,Peter Krueger,Principal Investigator,(423) 894-4646,pkrueger@accurate-automation.com,Accurate Automation Corporation proposes to develop a system design for a self-contained missile launchable RF Generator based on a frozen wave transmission line technique. The RF transmission line will be charged through an optically activated switch fabricate from silicon carbide. A high energy pulsed laser with an electronic timing control will connect to the switch via an optical fiber. A high voltage series resonant DC supply will provide the charge for the transmission line. Battery power will be used as the prime power supply for the laser and DC source.
Time Variation of Workflow Processes to Confound Enemy Proactivity,W15P7T-11-C-A810,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,729926.00,Accurate Automation Corporation,7001 Shallowford Road,,Chattanooga,TN,37421-1716,No,No,No,Roger Bailey,CFO,(423) 894-4646,rogerdalebailey@netzero.net,Chadwick Cox,Principal Investigator,(423) 894-4646,ccox@accurate-automation.com,"Accurate Automation Corporation (AAC) proposes to develop two useful software tools for the Distributed Common Ground Control Station (DCGS). These tools will help the analyst build more useful products for her customers. AAC will address opportunities for growth within the spectrum of DCGS capabilities. First, AAC will develop a software tool to aid multi-intelligence Verification and Validation (V & V). Second, AAC will address issues of behavioral predictability by applying a novel method that we developed during Phase I. This second tool will 1) identify predictors within enemy behavior, and 2) allow the analyst to assist battlefield planners with eliminating predictability from their Courses of Action (COA). The V & V tool will focus on the PRODUCE step of the intelligence process and the cryptic behavior analysis tool will focus on the ANALYZE step. These tools will support situational understanding and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) at the middle to lower echelons by integrating organic and local intelligence sources. Both tools are responses to battlefield commanders""requests for intelligence systems that work despite connectivity losses to higher echelons and to distant databases. To this end, AAC will host the tools on a Basic Analyst""s Laptop (BAL) and will perform a demonstration using a small unmanned vehicle as an organic data source."
High Power Laser Triggered Carbon Nanotube Switch,W9113M-11-C-0035,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,599999.00,Accurate Automation Corporation,7001 Shallowford Road,,Chattanooga,TN,37421-1716,No,No,No,Roger Bailey,CFO,(423) 894-4646,rogerdalebailey@netzero.net,Peter Krueger,Principal Investigator,(423) 894-4646,pkrueger@accurate-automation.com,Accurate Automation Corporation proposes to develop a high power switch with a laser trigger to minimize pulse-to-pulse jitter. The switch will incorporate carbon nanotube electrodes for long life and high current capacity. The initial design of the switch will provide switching of up to 25 kV DC. The integral control of the switch will allow multiple switches to be triggered simultaneously or in a specific phased time sequence.
Robust and Efficient Anti-Phishing Techniques,W911NF-11-C-0017,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99206.00,Wombat Security Technologies,"4620 Henry Street, Third Floor",,Pittsburgh,PA,-,No,No,No,Jason Hong,CTO,(412) 621-1484,jasonh@wombatsecurity.com,Kurt Wescoe,VP of Engineering,(412) 621-1484,kwescoe@wombatsecurity.com,"Phishing attacks fool end-users into disclosing sensitive information (e.g., passwords, trade secrets, and national security secrets) or installing malware on their computers. While a number of automated solutions have been developed to mitigate these attacks, these solutions have drawbacks in terms of scalability, timeliness, and accuracy. Our goal is to develop novel anti-phishing email and web filtering techniques that overcome these limitations and dramatically improve the state of the art. Our work will combine two new technologies originally developed at Carnegie Mellon University, as well as novel linguistic analysis techniques. These technologies will make it possible to deploy email and web filtering solutions that exhibit considerably higher levels of accuracy than today""s solutions in a manner that is highly scalable and effective against zero-hour attacks. We have three key objectives for this Phase I effort: (1) evaluating system architectures that integrate our existing anti-phishing technologies in a way that is highly accurate, timely, and scalable both for the web and for email; (2) developing and evaluating natural language processing techniques that detect both spear-phishing and""reply-to""emails; (3) refining go-to-market strategies for these filters, in terms of deployment options and business models."
Health Monitoring of Composite Structures Using Carbon Nanotubes,FA9550-11-C-0003,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,2,750000.00,"Acellent Technologies, Inc.",835 Stewart Drive,,Sunnyvale,CA,94085-,No,Yes,No,Vindhya Narayanan,VP Business,(408) 745-1188,vindhya@acellent.com,Shyan B. Shen,Project Manager,(408) 745-1188,bobs@acellent.com,"ABSTRACT: Acellent Technologies and University of Delaware jointly propose to develop an integrated system of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and piezoelectric sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) of composite structures. The proposed integrated hybrid SHM system will detect the initiation of damage and monitor its growth in composite structures. This system will combine the unique sensing capabilities of CNT and piezoelectric sensors. Both piezoelectric sensors and distributed electrodes for CNT sensors will be built-into one pre-networked, pre-positioned layer called the SMART layer. The distributed electrodes on the SMART Layer will be utilized to measure the conductivity of the CNT network inside the polymer matrix, at various locations across the composite structure. Microcracks in the structure will be determined by the change in electrical conductivity of the CNT sensor network. The piezoelectric sensor network on the SMART Layer will be utilized to detect and quantify the localized cracks and delamination. In phase I, the team successfully demonstrated the feasibility of both the CNT and the piezoelectric SHM system for damage detection on composite coupons. In phase II, the team will refine the software systems and perform hardware integration to develop a hybrid SHM system with user-friendly interface for damage detection in composite structures. BENEFIT: Anticipated Benefits: The innovation of the proposed system has many advantages: 1) Increased safety, reliability and robust in-situ health monitoring (early warning system) 2) Complete damage information V both qualitative and quantitative characterization 3) Reduced inspections and reduced vehicle downtime 4) Maximized lifespan of structures residual life estimate by prognosis. Potential Commercial Applications: The technology and system that will be developed in Phase II will serve the interest of not only the aerospace industry but other industries as well that use composite materials including the automotive, shipping, railway and wind turbine manufacturing industries. Automobile bodies, offshore structures, wind turbine blades and railway coach components are prone to frequent mechanical wear and tear due to the environmental, transportational and operational effects under which they need to function. This technology will completely revolutionize the way in which structural diagnosis is performed in these industries and provide a state-of-the-art solution for maintenance and support. This technology will prove very useful for the different industries listed above and serve the needs for maintenance and support for all future generation aircrafts and different composite structures. The developmental results from the current project will be channeled in the coming years to customized products required by the government and industrial companies."
Intrinsic Health Management of Solid Rocket Motors (InSRM),FA9300-11-M-2011,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,"Acellent Technologies, Inc.",835 Stewart Drive,,Sunnyvale,CA,94085-,No,Yes,No,Vindhya Narayanan,VP Business,(408) 745-1188,vindhya@acellent.com,Shawn Beard,Chief Technology Officer,(408) 745-1188,sjb@acellent.com,"ABSTRACT: Solid rocket motors (SRMs) serve as the propulsion system for numerous types of missiles. Many of these missiles are intended to sit idly in storage for extended periods and then are required to function flawlessly. However, SRMs are subject to a variety of unexpected environmental and loading conditions from the time-of-manufacturing to launch, and these conditions can significantly impact the performance and reliability of the motor. In addition, aging of the materials can cause significant property changes, leading to bondline degradation and changes in the propellant strain field, which can result in anomalous burning behavior when the motor is fired. An accurate assessment of the current state of an SRM, and prediction of the future state, is critically needed to ensure the viability of each asset and maintain a healthy missile fleet. Acellent Technologies is currently developing structural health monitoring systems to address these issues. The proposed program focuses on innovations to develop a complete integrated system that can monitor the health of the SRM from cradle-to-grave. The goal of the program will be to develop the system for deployment on operational motors. The development will be conducted in close collaboration with ATK-Thiokol who fully supports the developmental efforts. BENEFIT: The proposed diagnostic system for solid rocket motor health and process mishap monitoring allows for early warning of structural and propellant damage, errant structural behavior, or material degradation detection throughout involved handling, transportation, and testing processes. The largest and nearest-term impact areas for the technology are mission critical COPV structures used in aerospace structures. Economic and political factors drive the need to keep these structures in-service for longer periods of time, often well beyond their designed service life. As these structures age, there is an increasing need for inspection to ensure public safety and schedule maintenance effectively. The high cost of owning and operating these systems provides incentives for enhancing the means of evaluating and monitoring their structural integrity. The proposed work will be conducted in close collaboration with the rocket motor industries (such as ATK Thiokol) to ensure that this research will be directly beneficial to them. Acellent is currently working with other industries such as aeronautics, automobile, off-shore and ground vehicles to enable utilization of mass-production techniques to provide high quality sensing technologies at lower costs to the individual users. Once developed, the system will be available independently or in a complete package along with the monitoring layer, software and hardware. The plug-and-play feature of the system will make it ready to use for any practical application."
Structural Sensing of Corrosion in 5XXX-Series Aluminum,N00167-11-P-0177,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79989.00,"Acellent Technologies, Inc.",835 Stewart Drive,,Sunnyvale,CA,94085-,No,Yes,No,Vindhya Narayanan,Vice President Business,(408) 745-1188,vindhya@acellent.com,Sourav Banerjee,"Director, Product Develop",(408) 745-1188,souravb@acellent.com,"Acellent Technologies, Inc. (Acellent) proposes to develop a Highly sensitive Ultrasonic system consisting of Long Lasting SMART sensors (SMART HULL) utilizing Acellent""s SMART Layer technology to detect and continuously monitor corrosion damages in ship structures. The proposed system will be immensely valuable for Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) or Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), and other newer ships that are using new hull forms and structural materials such as 5XXX-series aluminum, whose physical properties and future degradation potential are not completely understood. These multilayered structures are vulnerable to hostile environmental conditions and are prone to developing pitting corrosion and other forms of corrosion. Acellent proposes that the sensors will be mounted on the inside of the hull during the manufacturing process. The primary objective will be to use minimal number of sensors with high end sensitivity of corrosion detection in 5xxx-series aluminum. The proposed Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems will be specifically designed to detect damages in multi-layered structural components (up to three layers) under harsh environmental condition. The system will be integrated with a portable hardware device which will scan the desired area of the structure couple of times a day or as specified by the user."
Underwater Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Propellers,N00014-11-M-0221,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79995.00,"Acellent Technologies, Inc.",835 Stewart Drive,,Sunnyvale,CA,94085-,No,Yes,No,Ritubarna Banerjee,Business Development Mana,(408) 745-1188,ritubarna_banerjee@acellent.com,Samik Das,Senior Project Engineer,(408) 745-1188,samik.das@acellent.com,"Monitoring the health of composite propeller structures and identifying problems before they can affect the integrity and safe operation has been a long-term goal in naval industry. Composite propellers are being developed by the Navy for a number of potential benefits, including reducing weight and maintenance requirements, while increasing design flexibility and performance. However like all other composite construction composite propellers are prone to damage. Hence a robust Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system is required to monitor the in-service composite propeller. This will also reduce maintenance cost and also help design in more cost effective composite propeller. Acellent proposes to develop an underwater Structural Health Monitoring system for composite propeller. This development will address all the challenges such as sensor and connector design in underwater environment and in-service real-time inspection, operational and environmental variability, damage diagnosis and classification. Acellent will develop an embedded SMART layer system for composite propeller monitoring with statistical data analysis software to diagnose the health of the composite structure. Acellent""s ultimate goal will be to develop a complete SHM system for monitoring the health of composite propellers used in naval vessel."
Innovative Method for Real-Time Damage Alleviation,N68335-11-C-0511,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79999.00,"Acellent Technologies, Inc.",835 Stewart Drive,,Sunnyvale,CA,94085-,No,Yes,No,Vindhya Narayanan,"Vice-President, Business",(408) 745-1188,vindhya@acellent.com,Sourav Banerjee,"Director, Product Develop",(408) 745-1188,souravb@acellent.com,"Acellent Technologies, Inc. (Acellent) proposes to develop a Real time Auto Responsive System for Rotorcraft""s Fatigue Damage Alleviation, using Structural Health Monitoring and Component Usage Data. The proposed technology is primarily based on three strong expertises that the team (Acellent and Advanced Rotorcraft Technologies (ART)) brought in to this proposal. A) Acellent""s SMART Layer technology to detect and continuously monitor fatigue damages in rotorcraft components, B) Acellent""s Data fusion and statistical data interpretation capability C) ART""s Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD)/Nonlinear Finite Element Model (FEM) for component response interpretation and feedback loop to the real time flight control for further damage alleviation. The proposed concept is one step ahead of current health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS) and Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) technology."
Pitting Corrosion Sensor and Tracker,N68335-11-C-0516,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,79991.00,"Acellent Technologies, Inc.",835 Stewart Drive,,Sunnyvale,CA,94085-,No,Yes,No,Vindhya Narayanan,"Vice-President, Business",(408) 745-1188,vindhya@acellent.com,Howard Chung,"Director, Product Managem",(408) 745-1188,howardc@acellent.com,"The Navy is interested in innovative ways to detect and track corrosion between metallic surfaces in magnesium housings. Many of the corrosion inspection methods currently employed in the field to inspect magnesium housings involve disassembling the components and performing a visual inspection. Apart from being time-consuming, labor intensive, cumbersome and unreliable these inspections often lead to damage of the protective coating covering the surface during disassembly. In addition, the corrosion areas of interest are located in close proximity to the aircraft flight controls and the gearbox mounting and hence a good monitoring system is critical for aircraft safety. In response, Acellent is proposing to use its SMART Layer technology to develop a corrosion inspection system to detect and track corrosion between metallic surfaces to within 5 mils depth and to locate the areas of corrosion to within 1 inch accuracy. This handheld Corrosion Detection system will consist of a Hybrid SMART layer network with piezoelectric sensors for corrosion detection and pressure sensors to detect pressure changes between the metal layers. The system will be developed and tested for resilience against changing stresses, corrosive environments and fretting movement. Several alternative sensors configurations and technologies to detect bolt preloads are also considered."
A Compact Safe Cold-Start (CS2) System for Scramjets using Dilute Triethylaluminum Fuel Mixtures,NNX11CB64C,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,2,598970.00,ACENT Laboratories LLC,3 Scott Lane,,Manorville,NY,11949,No,No,No,Anthony Castrogiovanni,President,6318012616,anthony.castrogiovanni@acentlabs.com,Scott D. Gallimore,Principal Investigator,5712480134,scott.gallimore@acentlabs.com,"This proposal leverages a highly successful Phase 1 feasibility effort to further develop a system that satisfies the cold-start requirements of scramjet engines. The system provides energy-dense, low volume hydrocarbon fuel conditioning based on the hydrolysis reaction of triethylaluminum (TEA) with water. TEA is an organometallic liquid that reacts exothermically with water and burns readily in air. In Phase 1, we demonstrated the hydrolysis of TEA in JP fuel within an integrated mixing/injection apparatus to heat and vaporize the liquid hydrocarbon fuel prior to injection in a regeneratively cooled scramjet, as well as auto-ignition of the mixture at elevated TEA concentrations. In Phase 2 we propose to more completely characterize the performance capability of the Phase 1 system using several hydrocarbon fuels to gather data for the design and fabrication of a palletized system. Testing of the palletized system in a direct connect scramjet rig will then be conducted to demonstrate engine ignition capability and to compare the system to other ignition systems under consideration for scramjet vehicles. Packaging in candidate flight vehicles will be carried out using 3D solid modeling to provide gravimetric and volumetric information and to provide designs for practical integrated, safe storage and dispense arrangements."
Adduct Dipstick for Diagnosis of Acetaminophen Toxicity,2R42DK079387-03,HHS,HHS,STTR,2011,2,1692374.00,"ACETAMINOPHEN TOXICITY DIAGNOSTICS, LLC",800 MARSHALL STREET,,LITTLE ROCK,AR,-,No,No,No,Laura P. James,,501-364-1418,jameslaurap@uams.edu,Laura P. James,,501-364-1418,jameslaurap@uams.edu,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Acetaminophen (APAP) is the most commonly used drug for the treatment of pain and fever in the world today. In large doses, APAP causes acute liver failure and is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the US. Thecurrent laboratory test for the diagnosis of APAP toxicity, measurement of APAP levels in peripheral blood, is only effective in the first 24 hours of APAP overdose. Acetaminophen Toxicity Diagnostics (ATD), LLC has developed a rapid, point-of-care diagnostic assay (dipstick) for the measurement of APAP protein adducts. Adducts are sensitive and specific biomarkers of APAP hepatotoxicity that may be detected in peripheral blood 6 to 7 days after a toxic overdose of APAP. The dipstick detects APAP irreversibly bound to proteins (APAP protein adducts) by using antibodies specific for adducts in the detection system. The dipstick is reliable, accurate and provides rapid results. In Specific Aim 1, the dipstick will be calibrated to detect levels of APAP protein adducts corresponding to severe liver toxicity and 2000 precision manufactured, research use dipsticks will be produced. In Specific Aim 2, the dipsticks will be tested internally for stability, specificity, and diagnostic sensitivity using stored, frozen clinical samples. In Specific Aim 3, six major hepatology centers will participate in a study to measure dipstick performance in patients with acute liver injury and acute liver failure. Successful completion of these aims will establish the clinical utility of the dipstick, an innovation that will enhance the diagnosis of APAP toxicity. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Acetaminophen is the most widely used drug for the treatment of pain and fever around the world. Large doses of acetaminophen can cause acute liver failure and death. Diagnostic tests are needed for patients that have acetaminophen related liver injury. The current laboratory test only works in the first 24 hours after acetaminophen overdose. Acetaminophen Toxicity Diagnostics, LLC has developed a rapid dipstick test that measures biomarkers of acetaminophen liver injury. These biomarkers (known as acetaminophen protein adducts) can be measured in the blood samples of patients with acetaminophen related liver injury for 6 to 7 days after theoverdose. This project will further develop the dipstick test so that it can be available to physicians in the future."
A Cognitive Analysis of Leveraging LADAR to Support Combat Identification,FA8650-11-M-6209,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99890.00,"361 Interactive, LLC",400 South Main Street,,Springboro,OH,45066-,No,No,No,Michael J. McCloskey,President,(937) 743-0361,mike@361interactive.com,Michael J. McCloskey,President,(937) 743-0361,mike@361interactive.com,"ABSTRACT: Imagery analysts must frequently identify targets in rapidly changing environments where mistakes can have tragic consequences. LADAR is an emerging sensor technology that provides a rich data source for human analysts in support of combat identification. However, the primary focus of prior research has been on developing LADAR as a technology without adequately considering how an analyst will exploit LADAR data. Additionally, providing 3D LADAR data to an analyst when they are already trying to manage ever-increasing amounts of data in multiple forms can promote data overload. Further, issues of trust in automation must be examined. We will leverage innovative research methodologies and cognitive task analyses to identify the cognitive demands and challenges of combat identification analysts and determine how 3D LADAR data can address these gaps. We will develop visualization concepts based on ecological interface design principles to support 3D data exploitation. This effort will utilize a decision-centered design approach to develop a truly collaborative system that will allow a human analyst and assisted target recognition systems to work together to exploit 3D LADAR data. These concepts will generalize to other domains where the exploitation of 3D data is critical including medical imagery, border surveillance, and airport screening. BENEFIT: Within the military, this research will have direct applicability to military intelligence and any analysts who are responsible for exploiting 3D LADAR data for combat identification. The proposed system will provide innovative visualization concepts that will allow analysts to interpret and act on 3D data. This ability has direct relevance to any government or private sector group that uses 3D data, including DHS (border surveillance and airport screening) and the medical community (diagnosis using 3D imaging)."
A Cognitive Systems Approach to Supporting Air Force Intelligence Analysis,FA8650-11-C-6228,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,748119.00,"361 Interactive, LLC",400 South Main Street,,Springboro,OH,45066-,No,No,No,Michael J. McCloskey,President,(937) 743-0361,mike@361interactive.com,Michael J. McCloskey,President,(937) 743-0361,mike@361interactive.com,"ABSTRACT: The insertion of WAAS into the Air Force GEOINT analyst's arsenal of resources represents an evolutionary advance in potential real-time and forensic analysis capabilities. With the broad coverage areas that WAAS provides, analysts will be able to monitor individuals, groups, and vehicles across space and time, allowing them to more accurately and effectively develop patterns of life, identify insurgent networks and cells, and provide critical, time-sensitive information to customers on the ground. But with these new capabilities come challenges. WAAS datasets will be enormous, and the potential for data overload is significant. Decision aids and user interfaces are needed that will support analysts in optimally exploiting WAAS datasets, and these supports must be based on the actual cognitive demands of the analysts. In this effort, we will directly address this requirement by performing an extensive cognitive analysis of the WAAS data analysis task. Our team will develop multiple WAAS datasets, customized to the unique cognitive tasks that WAAS analysts will face. These datasets will be integrated into realistic, mission-relevant simulations, which will be administered with operational analysts. Aids and interfaces will be developed and the most promising and immediately usable will be formally evaluated, again utilizing the mission-relevant WAAS datasets. BENEFIT: The Air Force GEOINT analysis community will have a direct and immediate need for supports to WAAS analysis. As Gorgon Stare is deployed, analysts will be faced with massive amounts of data to exploit, and our cogntively-based supports will promote effective and efficient data exploitation. Outside DoD, our contacts at the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will all need similar, analyst-centered WAAS decision aids and interface supports."
"Passive, Wireless Sensors for Extreme Turbine Conditions",FA8650-11-M-5147,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,100000.00,Acree Technologies Incorporated,1980 Olivera Ave,Suite D,Concord,CA,94520-5454,No,No,No,Ann Mulville,Contract Manager,(925) 798-5770,mulville@acreetech.com,Mike McFarland,Principal Scientist,(925) 798-5770,mcfarland@acreetech.com,"The purpose of this project is to develop and demonstrate innovative wireless sensor materials and concepts that can be used on turbine engine components for Engine Health Monitoring (EHM) at temperatures up to and exceeding 1,260 degrees C. The state of the wireless sensor circuit will be determined by the resonant response from an outside transmitter/receiver. The sensors will be constructed from proven high-temperature materials that meet the project goal of stable material properties up to 1260 degrees C (2300 degrees F). BENEFIT: The development of low cost, robust, high temperature sensors will allow: 1) For measuring the operating parameters in extremely hot environments such as the compressor and turbine sections to validate computer modeling codes, 2) Allow active control of pressure surges in turbine engines, 3) Allow the ability to diagnose turbine engine system health and estimate component capability for future missions, thereby reducing the cost of ownership, 4) Provide inputs for diagnostic and life prediction models and will allow engine inspection and maintenance to be performed on accurate need-based schedules, removing the inefficiencies and guesswork from aircraft maintenance. This is expected to lead to significant depot and maintenance cost savings and a significant reduction in aircraft downtime."
Full Spectrum Photovoltaic Cells,N62583-11-P-0528,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,69996.00,Acree Technologies Incorporated,1980 Olivera Ave,Suite D,Concord,CA,94520-5454,No,No,No,Mike McFarland,President,(925) 798-5770,mcfarland@acreetech.com,Alex Welsh,Senior Scientist,(925) 798-5770,welsh@acreetech.com,"The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of using sputter deposition techniques to fabricate high efficiency (>50%) solar cell devices that convert sunlight to electricity using the full range of the visible spectrum. The approach will use the low cost, scalable and well characterized thin film deposition technique of sputtering to deposit solar cells with multiple energy bands onto low cost substrates. The solar cells will utilize a highly mismatched alloy system that allows for a single alloy to exhibit multiple band gaps. It has been shown previously that this material system can be grown with band gap energies that allow for photon absorption across the full range of the visible solar spectrum, allowing for conversion efficiencies of>50%."
Miniaturization of Sensors on Flexible Substrates,W15QKN-11-C-0149,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,729994.00,Acree Technologies Incorporated,1980 Olivera Ave,Suite D,Concord,CA,94520-5454,No,No,No,Ann Mulville,Project Manager,(925) 798-5770,mulville@acreetech.com,Mike McFarland,President,(925) 798-5770,mcfarland@acreetech.com,The purpose of this project is to demonstrate nanoink printing processes for making function specific active sensors and electronics on flexible substrates. The goal is to demonstrate ink formulations and recipes for depositing conductor and semiconductor materials on various flexible polymer and polyimide substrates for use in smart munitions sensors. In this project active sensor electronic systems for intelligent munitions will be developed with an emphasis on antenna and GPS electronics for Medium Range Munitions (MRM).
"Infrared-Transparent, Millimeter-Wave Bandpass, Missile Dome Design",N00014-11-C-0382,DOD,NAVY,SBIR,2011,2,498943.00,Acree Technologies Incorporated,1980 Olivera Ave,Suite D,Concord,CA,94520-5454,No,No,No,Mike McFarland,President,(925) 798-5770,mcfarland@acreetech.com,Jeff Brown,Senior Scientist,(925) 798-5770,jbrown@acreetech.com,"This purpose of this project is develop an infrared transparent, millimeter wave bandpass filter for use on tri-mode seeker domes for the next generation Joint Air-to-Ground Missile. The filters will simultaneously have a pass-band insertion loss 20dB, and IR transparency greater than 90% to 5m. The filters will be characterized by optical transmission scans, electrical measurements, and EMI shielding measurements from 26.5 to 40 GHz. Furthermore, high temperature testing to greater than 500 degrees C will be performed along with abrasion testing and sand erosion testing. This data will assess the suitability of different designs for use in the tri-mode seeker domes."
QMU in Integrated Spacecraft System Models,NNX11CC62C,NASA,NASA,STTR,2011,2,599978.00,ACTA Incorporated,"2790 Skypark Drive, Suite 310",,Torrance,CA,-,No,No,No,James M. Hudson,Vice President,3105301008,hudson@actainc.com,Timothy K. Hasselman,Principal Investigator,3105301008,hasselman@actainc.com,"ACTA and Sandia National Laboratories propose to quantify and propagate substructure modeling uncertainty for reduced-order substructure models to higher levels of system assembly, thereby enabling predictive simulations of engineering designs with quantified margins and uncertainties for model-based flight qualification of complete spacecraft. A critical part of this process is the accurate modeling of nonlinear components and interface structures, structures that connect major substructures, and the quantification of their uncertainties. By developing uncertainty models for reduced order models of specific substructures, NASA will be able to quantify margins and uncertainties for structural systems outside the domain of model validation tests."
Predicting Structural Debris and Secondary Air-Blast,FA8651-11-M-0080,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99951.00,ACTA Incorporated,"2790 Skypark Drive, Suite 310",,Torrance,CA,-,No,No,No,James Hudson,Vice President,(310) 530-1008,hudson@actainc.com,G. W. Wathugala,Principal Investigator,(310) 530-1008,wathugala@actainc.com,"The secondary debris generated during the breakup of walls and slabs interacts with the high pressure gases passing through cracks in the separated material. This interaction causes a reduction of blast/gas loads in the blast room and acceleration (and sometimes further breakup) of secondary debris that can be lethal to personnel and equipment in adjoining rooms. The secondary debris can also impact walls and windows in adjoining rooms causing additional damage. Current High-Fidelity Physics-Based (HFPB) Fast-Running Models (FRM) ) that are used to predict weapon effectiveness do not model these coupled, interactive physics yet data from current operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. demonstrate that this secondary debris is an important damage mechanism. Ignoring this will have a negative impact on collateral damage estimation and weaponeering activity. A novel approach to simulate this complex scenario using HFPB methods is proposed. FRMs will be developed based on the results of a suite of these HFPB runs BENEFIT: Present HFPB (High Fidelity Physics Based) FRMs (Fast Running Models) at Air Force assessment codes were developed using uncoupled calculations. Therefore, they are not capable of predicting the generation of secondary debris mass-velocity distributions accurately. The current models also do not predict the projection of blast loads to adjoining spaces. The successful completion of this project will provide, AFRL with better tools to account for secondary debris for assessing lethality of weapons."
Munitions Effects on Building Infrastructure Components,FA8651-11-M-0083,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99968.00,ACTA Incorporated,"2790 Skypark Drive, Suite 310",,Torrance,CA,-,No,No,No,James Hudson,Vice President,(310) 530-1008,hudson@actainc.com,George Lloyd,Staff Scientist,(310) 530-1008,lloyd@actainc.com,"Functional Kill of buildings and below-ground structures is becoming an increasing area of concern for war fighters. Functional Kill refers to defeating a building by rendering it or its contents (infrastructure) functionally incapable of performing the overall mission for which the building was designed. AFRL/RWPL is seeking innovative methods to accomplish the modeling of Functional Kill. ACTA proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of several innovative methods for modeling building infrastructure within the Smart Target Model Generator (STMG) and to demonstrate the feasibility of a general and practical methodology for high-fidelity physics-based (HFPB) Fast Running Models (FRM""s) for predicting the probable effects of munitions on the functionality of building infrastructure components. Finally, the feasibility of integrating the FRM""s within the enhanced STMG/MEVA framework will be demonstrated. BENEFIT: Numerous government agencies, all military branches, and the majority of industry are required to estimate risks and maximum probable loss to buildings and equipment arising from terrorist threats and accidental explosions. Existing methodologies for infrastructure vulnerability are few, largely heuristic, and do not account for uncertainty. Most demonstrated consequence models require extremely long run times and are unsuitable outside a research context. The development of HFPB Fast Running Models for predicting the probable effects of munitions on building infrastructure will remedy this widespread need. Integration of these FRM""s within STMG/MEVA will provide AFRL/RWPL with a greatly enhanced ability to assess functional kill under different scenarios, accounting for uncertainty. Availability of infrastructure component models will also greatly improve the ability of planners to mitigate potential threats."
Novel and Electro-Hydrostatic Actuation for Robotic Applications,N11AP20036,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99252.00,"Active Signal Technologies, Inc.","Hammonds South, Unit Q",611 North Hammonds Ferry Road,Linthicum Heights,MD,-,No,No,No,Keith Bridger,Ph.D.,(410) 636-9350,Keith@ActiveSignalTech.com,Keith Bridger,Ph.D.,(410) 636-9350,Keith@ActiveSignalTech.com,"Hydraulic actuation is particularly attractive for robotics because it is mature, robust, high speed and offers inherently high power and force densities. However, its implementation in this field has been relatively restrained because of size (central pumps, actuators and fluid distribution networks), leakage, complex control dynamics and cost. The team of Active Signal Technologies (AST), Cornell University and Moog intends to address these shortcomings with a novel approach to electrohydrostatic actuation (EHA) featuring a compact central pump and smaller distributed pumps in order to optimize system efficiency, weight and size. Current EHA technology as employed on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter provides all-electric power across a heavy copper bus to relatively large actuators integrated with local hydraulic pumps. The hybrid system proposed here for robotics will employ lower fluid pressure and alternative fluids such as water to maximize the use of plastic and lightweight composite parts (such as PMMA/PDMS sandwich structures) in actuator construction, and will parse actuation tasks between its central and local power units. System simulations run by Cornell in Phase I will quantify the pressure and power requirements. The challenge for hydraulics in the field of mobile robots is to achieve reciprocating motion for pumps and valves at the meso scale because there is a performance gap in available technology in the middle-range between solid state actuation (small, high frequency, high force and low displacement) and linear motors (large, lower frequency and force, and high displacement). The heart of the proposed new system is a revolutionary electromagnetic driver that powers the piston of the pump. Instead of a conventional solenoid configuration where the induced magnetic field produces a highly nonlinear mono-directional force on the core, or the linear stepper motor with its alternately attracting and repelling shear forces, the novel AST driver takes advantage of additive push-pull forces in-line with the motion. The resultant compact device which will be prototyped in Phase I has very high force per unit of moving mass, is fully reversible and generates high work output by virtue of relatively high forces at all points in the travel. It also scales readily in the dimension range between central (~0.15m) and remote (~0.05m) pumps. A number of ways to minimize pump noise will be investigated including passive damping via plastic construction materials, gas-charged accumulators and absorber elements at the end walls of the cylinder. Design of the hydraulic actuators themselves will build upon an extensive body of work conducted at Cornell""s Laboratory for Intelligent Machine Systems (LIMS). This will include new hydraulically driven McKibben-type artificial muscle and use of biomimetic hydraulic valving schemes to enable the phenomenon of""dangle""which will allow a robotic limb to transition smoothly to swaying to preserve momentum or respond passively to external loads."
Nonlinear Dielectric Materials and Processing for High-Energy-Density Capacitors,FA8650-11-M-5164,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,1,99666.00,"Active Signal Technologies, Inc.","Hammonds South, Unit Q",611 North Hammonds Ferry Road,Linthicum Heights,MD,-,No,No,No,Arthur Cooke,President,(410) 636-9350,arthur@activesignaltech.com,Keith Bridger,Treasurer,(410) 636-9350,keith@activesignaltech.com,"Active Signal Technologies proposes to develop novel nonlinear dielectrics based largely on solid solutions of substituted sodium bismuth titanate (NBT) with substituted lead magnesium niobate (PMN) to shift the NBT antiferroelectric phase into the ambient temperature range. The effects on dielectric properties of nano-scale processing, including the preparation of submicron powders and coating the particles with glass-forming ions, will be studied. Measurements of permittivity, loss, resistivity, polarization and strain will be performed as a function of electric field, and breakdown strength will be measured on K-squares and small lab prototype capacitors to provide input data for our model which calculates intrinsic energy densities of the dielectrics comparing nano with conventional processing. It is anticipated that the nano processing, which has been shown to enhance consolidation and increase breakdown strength, combined with the unique NBT-PMN compositions will yield high energy densities with very low dissipation factor. In parallel, the team will demonstrate engineering capability to build and test a large (12-kV, 0.5 & #956;F) low inductance module using a commercial, high-energy-density antiferroelectric dielectric. A smaller module will also be constructed with prototype fuse elements to prove that graceful failure mechanisms can be achieved while pulsing at 100-pps. BENEFIT: The availability of high-energy-density ceramic capacitors that exhibit graceful failure and can to scaled to large capacitances at high voltages will greatly reduce the size and weight of power-conditioning systems and directed energy weapons since capacitors are often the largest component of these systems. Additionally if the capacitors extend these properties to high temperatures then hybrid electric vehicle and energy exploration technologies will be positively impacted."
Wide-Temperature High Frequency Capacitors for Power Conditioning,FA8650-11-C-2145,DOD,DOD,SBIR,2011,2,749619.00,"Active Signal Technologies, Inc.","Hammonds South, Unit Q",611 North Hammonds Ferry Road,Linthicum Heights,MD,-,No,No,No,Arthur Cooke,President,(410) 636-9350,arthur@activesignaltech.com,Keith Bridger,Technical Director,(202) 547-0293,fsbridger@comcast.net,"Phase II of the present program will produce capacitors and modules that meet the Air Force need for ultra-stable electrical properties (loss<0.1%, permittivity ~2,000>1-OhmF at 250 degrees C), and graceful performance degradation. Initial optimization work by the team of Active Signal Technologies, Alfred University, Novacap and Lockheed Martin will enable a down-selection between two dielectric formulations and two alternative processing routes based on full characterization and testing of MLCs and 6 - 10-uF modules prepared from the candidate systems scaled up and fabricated in a manufacturing plant. One material system uses niobium substitution of the baseline NBT dielectric while the other integrates the outstanding properties of a high-temperature-stable (NBT-ST) and a low-temperature-stable (PMN-ST) dielectric material. Module development will proceed from a compact low inductance prototype developed in Phase I through iterations of fuse development at the 6 and 10-uF scale to demonstrate individual drop-out of failing capacitors under extreme testing conditions without energetic or propagating damage to the remainder of the module. The down-selected dielectric system will be further refined and used to prepare a large batch of ~1-uF capacitors for manufacture of the final deliverable 20-uF fused module."
SBIR Phase I: Rapid and In-situ Analysis of Deepwater Oil Plumes by Micro-ESR Spectrometry,1046819,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,1,149977.00,"Active Spectrum, Inc.","1191 Chess Dr., Suite F",,Foster City,CA,94404-1192,No,No,No,James R. White,DPhil,6502122625,jwhite@activespectrum.com,James R. White,,6502122625,jwhite@activespectrum.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project involves field analysis of crude oil emulsions using electron spin resonance (ESR/EPR) spectroscopy. The recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is substantially different from previous oil spills in that a large fraction of the oil spilled is thought to be located in huge underwater oil plumes comprised of tiny dispersed oil droplets. Characterizing this dispersed oil (rapidly determining the presence or absence of dispersed oil, and its concentration) represents an important task in monitoring the scope of the damage and effectiveness of the cleanup efforts. This project will demonstrate a new application of Active Spectrum?s handheld Micro-ESR technology which is currently used by several major oil companies in the US to measure the concentration of asphaltene in heavy oils. Asphaltene measurement using the Micro-ESR spectrometer takes approximately 1 minute and the instrument requires 30W of power, suitable for handheld or remotely deployed (for example, underwater) test equipment. The broader/commercial impacts of this research are The proposed heavy oil detection system based on Active Spectrum?s Micro-ESR technology offers the potential to rapidly and relatively inexpensively characterize seawater samples and determine if heavy oil is present, and if so, in what concentration. Measurement of asphaltene in crude oil is also of substantial interest to both producers and refiners. Many heavy crude oils have an asphaltene component that must be appropriately measured and treated to prevent precipitation and fouling of pipelines and equipment."
SBIR Phase II: Airborne Soot Sensor for Improving Fuel Efficiency and Reducing Pollutants,1058145,NSF,NSF,SBIR,2011,2,500000.00,"Active Spectrum, Inc.","1191 Chess Dr., Suite F",,Foster City,CA,94404-1192,No,No,No,James R. White,DPhil,6502122625,jwhite@activespectrum.com,James R. White,,6502122625,jwhite@activespectrum.com,"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will result in the development of a miniature airborne soot sensor for automotive diesel engine exhaust sensing applications. Current government regulations mandate that by 2012, all diesel vehicles sold in the United States will be equipped with onboard NOx and airborne particulate matter sensors. The proposed particulate matter sensor is based on the principle of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. This sensor technology will be miniaturized and hardened for use in an automotive application for airborne soot sensing. Design changes intended to meet aggressive cost-reduction goals are an important feature of the project. The end result will be an automotive-grade, low-cost airborne soot sensor that can ensure end-users? compliance with new diesel engine emissions standards. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is a reduction in airborne particulate matter emissions. Airborne particulate matter has been identified by the US government as one of six criteria pollutants with potentially serious health and environmental effects. Among the largest sources of airborne particulate matter (PM) are diesel vehicles and power plants. We propose a new, low-cost and highly specific airborne soot sensor based on a miniature electron spin resonance sensor technology. The upcoming government regulations for onboard vehicle diagnostics, combined with similar regulations abroad create a market for approximately 6.3 million airborne soot sensors per year worldwide. It is expected that the worldwide market size for onboard airborne soot sensors will grow to approximately $350M/year as a result of upcoming regulatory changes."
Tunable Bandstop Filters for Suppression of Co-site Interference and Jamming Sources,N00014-11-M-0304,DOD,NAVY,STTR,2011,1,80000.00,"Active Spectrum, Inc.","1191 Chess Dr., Suite F",,Foster City,CA,94404-1192,No,No,No,Christopher White,Treasurer,(650) 269-0401,white.christopher.j@gmail.com,Christopher White,Treasurer,(650) 269-0401,white.christopher.j@gmail.com,"We propose to develop miniaturize, high performance bandstop filters demonstrating low insertion loss in the 1-20 GHz range, broad tuning, and high RF power handling capability for interference mitigation in shipboard radar and communications systems."
Expanding Healthcare Research Capacities through the Integration of Medicaid and,1R44AG039918-01,HHS,HHS,SBIR,2011,1,87227.00,"ACUMEN, LLC","500 AIRPORT BLVD, STE 365",,BURLINGAME,CA,-,No,No,No,Ellen Banh,,650-558-8882,ebanh@acumenllc.com,Thomas Macurdy,,650-558-8882,tmac@acumenllc.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This STTR application requests funding to expand the capabilities of Acumen LLC's Medicare/Medicaid Research Information Center (MedRIC). To advance the quality of the data available for public policy research, MedRIC facilitates the acquisition of data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to participants of surveys and registries sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA). By linking administrative and survey data into a cohesive structure,Acumen will significantly reduce the financial and time costs that researchers currently bear to acquire and use CMS administrative data. Although MedRIC has already linked NIA survey data to Medicare enrollment and claims files, this project will augmentthese efforts to include linkages to Medicaid claims databases. By successfully expanding MedRIC's capabilities, this project will significantly reduce the burden that researchers and policy analysts face as they investigate health care utilization, quality, and expenditure patterns among low- income individuals, children, and pregnant women. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: To promote more effective public policy research on patients with limited income and resources, this project will create new data resources linking NIH survey data with Medicaid claims files. This integration will not only provide researchers higher quality information, but will also reduce the cost for NIH-funded researchers to access and use this linked data."
Creating Research Files from CMS Data for Integration with Survey Data,2R42AG029201-02,HHS,HHS,STTR,2011,2,738461.00,"ACUMEN, LLC","500 AIRPORT BLVD, STE 365",,BURLINGAME,CA,-,No,No,No,Ellen Banh,,650-558-8882,ebanh@acumenllc.com,Thomas Macurdy,,650-558-8882,tmac@acumenllc.com,"DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This STTR proposal to the National Institute on Aging (NIA) requests funding to expand the capabilities of the Medicare Research Information Center (MedRIC) recently established by Acumen, LLC with support from NIA. Thepurpose of MedRIC is to facilitate the acquisition and linking of data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to participants of surveys and registries sponsored by NIA and other related federal agencies, and to advance the use of thesedata for research and public policy. By expanding MedRIC's capabilities, Acumen will vastly reduce the financial and time costs that researchers must currently bear to acquire and use CMS administrative data. To date, MedRIC's activities have already linked Medicare enrollment and claims files to NIA surveys and registries. The aim of this STTR project is to expand the scope of the project to include the national assessment records for nursing home residents in the Long-term Care Minimum Data Set (MDS) andfor home health patients in the Outcomes and Assessment Instrument Set (OASIS). By successfully expanding MedRIC's capabilities, this project will vastly relieve the burden that researchers and policy analysts currently face as they investigate health care utilization, quality, and expenditure patterns for nursing home and home health patients. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: To promote more effective public policy research on patients receiving home health and nursing home care, this project will create new data resources linking NIH survey data with Medicare patient assessment files. This integration will not only provide researchers higher quality information, but will also reduce the cost for NIH-funded researchers to access and use this linked data."
Non-Catalytic Self Healing Composite Material Solution,NNX11CI35P,NASA,NASA,STTR,2011,1,99954.00,"ADA Technologies, Inc.",8100 Shaffer Parkway,Suite #130,Littleton,CO,-,No,No,No,Sheryl Suhr,Business Official,3038748262,sheryls@adatech.com,Steve Arzberger,Principal Investigator,3038748277,stevea@adatech.com,"Fiber reinforce polymer (FRP) composite materials are seeing increasing use in the construction of a wide variety of aerospace structures. However, uncertainties regarding the material's impact durability continue to plague the FRP composites community. To address this need, ADA Technologies, Inc. (ADA), Littleton, CO, in partnership with the University of Delaware's Center for Composite Materials (UD-CCM), Newark, DE, propose the development of a novel, non-catalytic, fully passive, self-healing polymer for use as a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) matrix material If successful, the proposed technology will provide fully autonomous self-healing without the use of a catalyst. Further, while the proposed program is largely focused on demonstrating self-healing capabilities in FRP material form, the proposed technology is broadly applicable to next-generation polymer-based composites such as carbon nanotube reinforced composites (i.e., polymer nanocomposites)."
"Advanced Materials for Safe, High Performance Space-Rated Lithium-Ion Batteries",NNX11CE52P,NASA,NASA,SBIR,2011,1,99994.00,"ADA Technologies, Inc.",8100 Shaffer Parkway,Suite #130,Littleton,CO,-,No,No,No,Sheryl Suhr,Business Official,3038748262,sheryls@adatech.com,Josh Buettner-Garrett,Principal Investigator,3038748282,joshg@adatech.com,"NASA space exploration vehicles are trending to higher pulse power, energy capacity levels and cycle life in order to meet exponentially increasing performance and lifespan requirements. As the demand for on-board power and total energy-storage capacity has continued to increase, there has been an increasing trend towards the use of battery technologies with higher energy- and power-density potential. Although substantial advancements have been made in this class of batteries over the past ten years by both domestic and foreign suppliers, substantial limitations still exist in: energy and power densities, operational temperature limits, safety, and lifecycle and lifetime performance. To address this need, ADA Technologies, Inc. proposes the use of advanced nanocomoposite electrodes and ionic liquid electrolytes to enable increased performance and safety in lithium-ion batteries as compared to state-of-the-art devices. The high capacity, high rate capability and high cycle life performance potential of the proposed advanced nanocomposite electrodes in combination with the inherent non-volatility and non-flammability of ionic liquids holds substantial potential in meeting this objective. This proposed project will result in improved specific energy and power, wider operation temperature ranges, inherently safer operation, and excellent storage / cycle life as compared to current Li-ion batteries."
Nanoparticles to Sequester and Facilitate In Vivo Excretion of Lipophilic Molecules,FA9550-11-C-0083,DOD,USAF,STTR,2011,1,99993.00,"ADA Technologies, Inc.",8100 Shaffer Parkway,Suite #130,Littleton,CO,-,No,No,No,"Clifton H. Brown, Jr.",President&CEO,(303) 792-5615,cliffb@adatech.com,Steve Arzberger,Program Manager,(303) 792-5615,stevea@adatech.com,"ABSTRACT: Mycotoxins are lipophilic agents derived from fungus that pose a significant public health problem around the world. The effects of mycotoxins include loss of human and animal life, increased healthcare and veterinary costs, reduced livestock production, and disposal of contaminated foods and feeds. Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin and T-2 mycotoxins, have been reported to be weaponized as terrorism agents, suggesting the possibility of future deployment against military personnel is a real and present danger. Unfortunately, no effective treatment for mycotoxin exposure in either the acute or chronic setting currently exists. As a result, the United States Air Force has identified the need to fabricate a nanoparticle therapeutic that can sequester and then facilitate the excretion of mycotoxins. To address this need, ADA Technologies Inc. (ADA; Littleton, CO) and Professor Kenneth W. Hunter (University of Nevada at Reno) propose the development of nanoparticles with surface-bound biomolecules for the intravenous binding of lipophilic molecules, sequestration, and excretion from the human body BENEFIT: The proposed program will result in a nanoparticle therapeutic with the demonstrated ability of tightly binding and sequestering lipophilic molecules in solution. The result of the proposed program is anticipated to be the first commercial therapeutic for exposure to fungal toxins. Additional commercial applications may include diagnostics, sensors, and tools for the identification of various harmful molds."
Quantum Dot Nanocomposite Based Novel Thermoelectric Mat